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INDUSTRY NEWS & PEOPLE  March 2007
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7 Airlines Protest To DOT About Higher LAX Terminal Fees
AirTran, Alaska Airlines, ATA, Frontier, Midwest, Southwest and US Airways have filed a joint complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in opposition to new terminal charges at Los Angeles International Airport. The airlines say the charges will increase their costs and may lead to higher fares and reduced options for Los Angeles air travelers.
The objecting airlines say the fee hike, imposed Feb. 1 on carriers operating out of Terminals 1 and 3, forces the airlines to pay as much as 12 times more per square foot than their competitors at other terminals. They estimate the collective financial impact of this differential over the next 15 to 20 years at more than $1 billion, with a near-tripling of charges from $20 million to $56 million in the first year alone.
The DOT secretary is required to issue a final decision within 120 days of the filing.
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AA Begins Installing Entertainment Systems On 767s
American Airlines has begun installing new personal video and audio entertainment devices in its business-class cabins on Boeing 767-300 aircraft, an upgrade project scheduled for completion by the end of 2007. American has 58 767-300s in its fleet. Each aircraft will be equipped with portable entertainment devices that have a 10.6-inch monitor and noise-canceling headphones and are loaded with movies, games, CDs and TV programs.
In addition to the entertainment devices, business-class cabin will have new lie-flat seats, interlocking tray tables, the ability to track the seat forward for added privacy and new cabin lighting. The 767-300s are operated on most of the airline's transatlantic services, as well as on select routes to Latin America.
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Accor Expanding Mercure Brand In UK And Asia Pacific
Accor has signed a 20-year management contract with Moorfield Real Estate Fund for 23 Mercure brand hotels in the United Kingdom, representing 2,236 rooms. Mercure is Accor’s non-standardized midscale hotel brand.
There are currently two Mercure hotels in Britain, the Mercure London City Bankside and the Mercure Brigstow Bristol. Mercure is adding unique establishments that meet the brand’s standards of excellence, like the Castle Hotel in Windsor, the Queen’s Hotel in Cheltenham, the St Paul’s Hotel in Sheffield and The Shakespeare Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon.
The company is also expanding Mercure's presence in the Asia-Pacific region, with six new hotels expected to open by year-end. It already has 17 facilities in the region, including three in China: the Mercure Shanghai Baolong, the Grand Mercure Xian and the Grand Mercure Shenzhen.
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Accor Reveals New Economy Brand As It Continues Divestment
Accor has revealed plans for this year's launch of All Seasons, a chain of non-standardized economy hotels that will be initially introduced in city centers and centers of activity in France and then developed across Europe. Nineteen franchise contracts have already been signed and 12 Accor-owned hotels will be re-branded to All Seasons. The company foresees a potential to open 10,000 rooms by 2010. The new brand will emphasize simplicity, quality and interactivity.
Concurrently, the Sofitel brand is being re-positioned in the international luxury hospitality segment. The current Sofitel portfolio of 200 hotels will be refined into an aligned base of 120 properties (excluding development), located in the world’s leading capitals and premium resorts destinations.
As part of its strategy to sell real estate assets and focus on hotel operations, Accor has signed a memorandum of understanding to sell 72 hotels in Germany and 19 in the Netherlands to Moor Park Real Estate for about $1.1 billion. The Novotel, Mercure, Ibis and Etap hotels involved in the transaction represent a total of 12,000 rooms. Accor will continue to operate the hotels.
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ACTE Launches Supplier-friendly Education And Research Center
The Association of Corporate Travel Executives has launched its Global Centre for Research and Education in a partnership focusing on direct relationships with corporations worldwide. Research endeavors have traditionally been funded by supplier members in trade organizations but this time, says ACTE, suppliers won’t be carrying the financial burden. The center will pursue studies at the direct request of ACTE or through commissioned requests of corporations, academia and other trade groups.
ACTE’s Global Centre for Research and Education will operate under the direction of its own executive committee and board of directors. Susan Hopley, executive vice president of emerging markets at TRX, will chair the executive committee. Also on the committee: Susan Gurley, executive director of ACTE, and Michael Platt, director of group industry affairs at HRG, who will act as the Centre's treasurer.
Details of the new Centre are available in the March issue of Business Travel Executive at www.askBTE.com, and on the Association web site www.acte.org.
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ACTE To Offset Conferences' CO2 Emissions
The Association of Corporate Travel Executives, in partnership with British Airways, says it will offset the carbon dioxide emissions generated by delegate travel to and from its Miami conference on May 7-8, along with those generated through the conference venue and accommodation. The same program will be followed for the ACTE global conference to be held in Munich on Oct. 21-23.
ACTE employed a carbon offset program for the first time last fall at its global education conference in Barcelona. British Airways sponsored the Barcelona offset, which was purchased and implemented through the Climate Warehouse.
In addition the Association worked to minimize ground emissions by changing conference working practices, such as reducing paper usage and using the CCIB in Barcelona – a highly energy efficient space.
The total emissions from the Barcelona conference were 732 ton of carbon dioxide; the offset was used to fund a biofuel energy project in southern India. The biofuels are produced locally, helping the village communities increase their self-sufficiency by decreasing their reliance on petroleum products.
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Air Canada Extends Flight Pass Program To US Travelers
Air Canada is now selling subscription flight passes to U.S. customers that enable unlimited air travel for a flat rate. The program has been available it Canada for nearly three years. Introductory prices apply until May 7. Pass prices include airport fees, charges and taxes. The passes are available in four zones: Canada Commuter (from New York, Newark, Boston, Chicago to Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal); Eastern (extended Eastern U.S.-Canada corridor); Western (extended Western U.S.-Canada corridor) and a comprehensive North America pass encompassing all 120 destinations served by Air Canada in the U.S. and Canada.
The airline's western corridor is adding Sacramento on June 15, when it introduces twice-daily, nonstop service between Vancouver and Sacramento, Calif. Air Canada is the second foreign carrier to offer flights from Sacramento; Mexicana Airlines began service from Sacramento in 2002.
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Air Canada Reveals Plans For New Boeing Jets
Air Canada will operate its first new Boeing 777 aircraft on routes serving Europe, Asia and the South Pacific. Air Canada will use the new wide body jets on the following routes: Toronto-London Heathrow (beginning in April); Toronto-Frankfurt and Toronto-Tokyo (beginning in June); Vancouver-Tokyo (beginning in July) and Toronto-Hong Kong (beginning in August). In addition, on Dec. 14, Air Canada will introduce daily, nonstop service between Vancouver and Sydney using its new 777 aircraft.
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Air New Zealand To Start Vancouver Service
Air New Zealand will launch thrice-weekly, nonstop flights between Vancouver and Auckland, New Zealand. The service will initially operate between Nov. 2 and March 28.
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AirPlus Introduces Customizable Invoice
AirPlus International, a global travel payment provider, has launched FlexEbill, which allows companies to create and modify the format of their billing information at any time through the AirPlus Business Travel Portal. Corporations can select, arrange and combine any invoice field information using FlexEbill. They can delete, add to or change existing fields in their invoice sequence, changing the format of the electronic invoice at any time.
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AirPlus Research Documents Surge In US Business Travel
AirPlus International has released the U.S. version of its Global Travel Management Study, which examines trends in business travel based on interviews with more than 1,000 travel managers in the United States and nine European countries. It reveals that 61 percent of American companies expect their employees to increase their travel. This is a higher figure than any other country that participated in the survey, and is up from 51 percent last year.
That level, says AirPlus, is well beyond pre-9/11 levels.
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AirTran To Launch Service To Maine And Charleston, S.C.
AirTran plans to begin seasonal service to Portland, Maine, with flights from Baltimore and Orlando. Beginning June 7, AirTran will offer three daily, roundtrips between Portland and Baltimore. On June 9, the airline will commence service between Portland and Orlando with one daily roundtrip.
Starting May 24, AirTran will offer two roundtrip flights between Charleston, S.C., and Atlanta, with the addition of two more roundtrips on June 7.
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Aloft Brand Coming To Texas
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has signed a deal with the Hillwood real estate development company to build Texas's first Aloft hotel in the Dallas suburb of Las Colinas. Hillwood is based in Dallas but the partnership is also looking to develop aloft properties in several other locations throughout the country. Starwood's Aloft brand, a mid-scale spin-off of its W Hotels, will have loft-like rooms with high ceilings and oversized windows. The first Aloft hotels are targeted to open in 2008.
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Aloft Brand To Make EU Debut In Brussels
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has signed an agreement with Thornsett Group Ltd, based in Ireland, to develop the first aloft hotel in Europe, the aloft Brussels, Belgium. The 150 guestroom aloft Brussels will be located on Rue Belliard, Leopold, in the 'European' quarter of Brussels.
In addition to the aloft hotel, the 74,000 square foot development will also include 108 one- and two-bedroom apartments and approximately 5,000 square feet of retail space with parking. Construction will begin in this fall with completion scheduled for Fall 2009.
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Amadeus Refines Coding To Aid Agents' Search For Rental Vehicles
Amadeus has enhanced its vehicle classification system for car rental distribution listings to clearly identify agents' search results that are exact matches to the travelers' needs as well as list the availability of alternate choices. The new codes are in line with the recommendations of the Association of Car Rental Industry System Standards (ACRISS).
The enhancements also includes the introduction of pseudo codes, which reduce the amount of time an agent needs to spend searching within a specified group for vehicles such as vans or SUVs.
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Ambassadors Buys Windstar Cruises From Carnival
Carnival Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to sell Windstar Cruises to Ambassadors International for $100 million. Windstar operates three small, luxury ships in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Ambassadors’ core businesses are cruising, marina construction and consulting services and event management.
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American Accelerates Delivery Of New Jets
American Airlines has accelerated its fleet renewal plan by beginning the replacement process for a portion of its MD-80 fleet. The airline has notified Boeing of its intent to begin pulling forward the delivery of 47 Boeing 737-800 aircraft under a previous purchase commitment. American will take of three of these aircraft in early 2009; previously they were scheduled for delivery in 2016. American intends to continue pulling forward deliveries of other aircraft from their current 2013-to-2016 delivery schedules into the 2009-to-2012 timeframe.
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American Express Launches Invoicing Tool
American Express has unveiled S2S SM eInvoice&Pay, an electronic invoice solution. With eInvoice, U.S. companies can process 100 percent of their invoices and issue payments to their suppliers from a single online portal managed by American Express. American Express says it will unveil other products in the S2S product suite in the coming months, addressing the areas of sourcing and ordering.
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American Plans Service Increase Out Of New York Airports
Throughout the year, American plans to launch new service and increase frequencies out of New York’s LaGuardia and JFK airports. On April 10, American Eagle will begin new service between LaGuardia and Cincinnati; American will add one mainline jet flight to complement existing American Eagle service from LaGuardia to Raleigh/Durham, N.C.; and service from Atlanta to LaGuardia will be converted to all mainline jet service with four daily flights.
On June 14, the airline will add two flights from JFK to Caracas, Venezuela, and on Aug. 15, American will add a sixth daily flight from JFK to San Francisco. On Sept. 5, American Eagle plans to begin service from LaGuardia to Louisville, Ky., and American will begin new service between JFK and Las Vegas.
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ANA Asks To Lower Fuel Surcharge
ANA has filed an application with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) to lower its fuel surcharge on international tickets issued on or after May 1 this year, in line with movements in the market price of fuel.
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ANA, SAA Explore Osaka-Johannesburg Link
ANA and South African Airways have filed an alliance agreement with their respective governments which will allow exploration of possible areas of closer cooperation, including the opportunity to codeshare on flights between South Africa and Japan via Hong Kong. Both airlines are members of the Star Alliance.
Any codeshare service between South Africa and Japan via Hong Kong would be subject to government approval. If granted, it would allow ANA to put its flight code, NH, on South African Airways’ daily flight between Johannesburg and Hong Kong, and South African Airways to put its flight code, SA, on ANA’s daily flight between Hong Kong and Osaka’s Kansai Airport. It would be the only network linking Japan and Africa, giving customers the convenience of only one flight code for their journey between the two countries, as well as through baggage.
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Avis Unveils Electronic Receipts
Avis customers who use their Avis Wizard number at the time of rental can now obtain electronic receipts, e-mailed to them within 24 hours of the return of the vehicle. Users provide the e-mail address in their rental profile. The e-Receipt service is automatic and free of charge.
Customers still receive a paper receipt when the rental vehicle is returned.
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Avis, Budget Offer GPS Units In Canada
Avis and Budget customers can now rent Garmin’s Where2, a portable global positioning system (GPS), at rental locations throughout Canada. Where2 is available at Avis airport rental locations in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, St. Johns and Halifax. Budget will rent Where2 units at airport locations in Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City and Halifax.
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BA Prepares For New Heathrow Digs By Ordering 8 New Jets
British Airways has ordered four Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft for delivery during early 2009, and taken out options on four more Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft for delivery in 2010. Robert Boyle, British Airways’ commercial director, says the new aircraft will enable the airline to grow its long-haul business after it moves to Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport.
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British Airways Apprised Of 117 Customers' GDS Concerns
The Business Travel Coalition has transmitted a letter to British Airways CEO Willie Walsh, expressing concerns about the airline’s reported intentions to impose surcharges and withhold content from the GDSs. The letter was signed by 117 corporate customers from the U.K., continental Europe, North America and Asia.
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British Airways Reaches Deal With Sabre
British Airways and Sabre Travel Network have reached a three-year, full-content agreement that will see the airline’s fares and inventory made available to all Sabre-connected travel agents worldwide. British Airways has guaranteed its full range of fares to Sabre customers, including published fares that the airline sells through its own web site, any third-party web site, and its own reservation offices.
Agents in the UK and Ireland will be required to join a new opt-in program to access these fares.
Earlier this month, British Airways reached a three-year distribution pact with Galileo.
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BSI Buys Event Management Company
BSI Group, a travel and meetings management company based in the U.K., has acquired Olive 360, a consultancy that specializes in delivering event management solutions. The London-based company has been purchased for an undisclosed sum.
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Canada Acts To Extend Tax Rebates For Convention Attendees
The Canadian government has included a "Foreign Convention and Tour Incentive Program" in its federal budget, which will in effect continue tax rebates that reimburses non-resident attendees at conventions in Canada. The Rebate program officially ends on April 1.
The new program takes effect on March 31. It does not include tax rebates for individual travelers from foreign countries.
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China Southern Code-shares With Pakistan International
China Southern Airlines has reached a code-share agreement with Pakistan International Airlines, and will place its code on PIA's Islamabad-Beijing service. In return, PIA will place its code on China Southern's Urumqi-Islamabad service.
China Southern has also launched its own Guangzhou-to-Dubai service, which will operate three times a week using wide-body jet Boeing 777B.
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China Southern Web Site Upgrade Includes Bilingual Chat Service
China Southern Airlines has implemented customer service enhancements, including a 24-hour reservation center that will handle all customer inquiries and a 24-hour, bilingual (Chinese and English) chat service on the airline’s web site.
China Southern is now allowing customers to make their seat selection and print out boarding passes via the airline’s web site within 12 hours before flight departure. The service is now available in 13 Chinese cities only, including Beijing and Guangzhou. The airline plans to expand it to 28 cities this year. Also, China Southern pledges to deliver the first piece of luggage within 15 minutes at each airport served in China when the aircraft is parked at the jetway and within 30 minutes when parked on the tarmac.
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Clear And Virgin Atlantic Open Enrollment Kiosk At JFK
Clear, which operates a registered traveler program at U.S. airports, and Virgin Atlantic Airways have opened an enrollment station at JFK Terminal 4 in New York. The station’s hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The Clear security lane at Terminal 4 will open next month.
The registered traveler program allows business travelers and other frequent flyers to pay an annual fee of $99.95 to provide their background information for pre-screening by the Transportation Security Administration and, if approved, receive a biometric identity card that will allow them expedited access through airport security checkpoints.
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Comfort Suites To Ban Smoking
Choice Hotels International said Comfort Suites will become a smoke free brand on May 1. All 433 Comfort Suites properties in the U.S., including public areas in those hotels, will be nonsmoking.
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Concur Updates Invoicing Tool, 'Virtually Eliminating’ Paper
Concur Technologies’ vendor payment product has been enhanced with the ability to electronically capture, convert and present all required data and documentation in order to complete the payment process for vendor invoices and employee check requests. The upgrade, says Concur, “virtually eliminates” the need to manage and store paper invoices.
Concur Vendor Payment provides a variety of methods to capture invoice data from suppliers. Electronic invoices can be sent by vendors directly into the tool for prompt approval and processing. For those suppliers that still prefer to send paper invoices, Concur Vendor Payment also can automatically convert paper invoices into electronic data that is fed into the system for approval and processing.
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Conditions Improved, Southwest Plans Return To San FranciscoConditions Improved, Southwest Plans Return To San Francisco
Saying that SFO has become "a more cost-efficient airport," Southwest Airlines says intends to resume service at there in the fall. The carrier has not released service details or a timeline. Southwest pulled out of San Francisco in March 2001 after serving the airport for 20 years. At the time, it offered 14 nonstop departures to San Diego and Phoenix. "Back then, facility and runway constraints meant we could not compete and be profitable," says Gary Kelly, Southwest’s CEO.
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Conrad Hotel Slated For Abu Dhabi
Conrad, the Hilton-owned luxury brand, will make its entry into Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in the fourth quarter of 2009. The Conrad Abu Dhabi will open with 380 guest rooms and 80 serviced apartments situated around a private lagoon.
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Continental Plans Newark-Mumbai Service
Continental Airlines will launch daily, nonstop flights between Newark and Mumbai, India, on Oct. 30, pending government approval. Continental has operated nonstop service between Newark and Delhi since 2005.
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Continental Rewards Employees As It Announces New Operations
Continental Airlines has made an early contribution of $35 million in cash to its defined-benefit pension plans, plus distributing $111 million in profit-sharing to its employees in the past month. It has also announced that it will begin the first-ever daily nonstop service between Jackson, Miss., and its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport in the fall; and twice-weekly flights to Loreto, Mexico, in June.
It was the first time since 2001 that the carrier has made a profit-sharing payment, and is the highest such distribution in Continental’s history. the airline recorded a net income of $343 million in 2006.
The airline’s early pension payment was in addition to a $71 million contribution made early in January. It was made with the proceeds of recent sales of substantially all of its remaining shares of ExpressJet Airlines, which has begun to provide some services under its own name. Nevertheless, ExpressJet will continue to be Continental’s regional partner, including using its Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets to provide the new Continental Express service to Jackson.
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Copa's CEO To Keynote ACTE's Latin American Summit In Miami
The Association of Corporate Travel Executives has announced that Copa Airlines CEO Pedro Heilbron will present the keynote address for the inaugural Latin American Regional Summit, to take place within ACTE’s Global Education Conference in Miami from May 6 to 8. Heilbron will present "Aviation Trends: Latin America and Beyond," a perspective on critical elements shaping the global airline industry.
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Cornerstone Renews Deal With Travel Management Alliance
The Travel Management Alliance (TMA), a group of U.S. travel management companies, have renewed their relationship with technology company Cornerstone Information Systems. The agreement will provide all members of the TMA network with preferred pricing on Cornerstone’s products, including ResMarker, iQCX, ResMail, AutoTicket, iBank and iBank Analytics.
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DTAG Outsources Some Calls
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group has signed a five-year deal to outsource a portion of its call center operations to PRC, a company that operates call centers in the U.S. and offshore. According to published reports, about 200 jobs at Dollar Thrifty’s call center in Tulsa, Okla., will be eliminated. Dollar Thrifty expects to save $20 million over the term of the agreement.
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Delta Plans NYSE Listing, Launch Of New Routes In June
Delta has filed an application to list its new common stock on the New York Stock Exchange after the company’s emergence from bankruptcy. Subject to the approval of its listing application and the effectiveness of its plan of reorganization, Delta anticipates that shares of the newly issued common stock will begin trading on the NYSE in early May under the ticker symbol DAL. Delta currently trades on the Pink Sheets.
Also in June, the airline plans to operate several new domestic routes, including Los Angeles to Portland, Ore.; New York-JFK to St. Louis; New York-LaGuardia to Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Salt Lake City to Birmingham, Ala.; Salt Lake City to San Luis Obispo, Calif.; and New York-JFK to Nantucket, Mass.
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Delta To Fly Nonstop To Nigeria
Delta plans to begin daily, nonstop flights between Atlanta and Lagos, Nigeria on Dec. 3. Delta said the new flights will offer customers three to six hours in time savings versus one-stop connections via Europe. North American Airlines also operates nonstop service to Lagos, from New York.
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Dollar Thrifty Acquires Franchise Locations In Pennsylvania
Dollar Thrifty has acquired Thrifty franchise operations in Pittsburgh, Middletown/Harrisburg, Allentown and Erie, Penn.; and Dollar franchise operations in Middletown/Harrisburg and Allentown, Penn. The acquisition includes Thrifty in-terminal locations serving Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Lehigh Valley and Erie airports, and Dollar in-terminal locations serving Harrisburg and Lehigh Valley. The deal adds approximately 600 vehicles to the company's corporate fleet.
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EmpireCLS Provides ‘Upper Class’ Luxury Service To Virgin Atlantic
EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services has launched a three-year partnership in Virgin Atlantic Airways’ “Upper Class Experience,” which provides complimentary luxury transportation for Upper Class Passengers in the New York tri-state area. EmpireCLS will be the exclusive limousine service for all six of the Virgin Atlantic flights featured at JFK and Newark Liberty international airports.
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Enterprise Donates $25M To Biofuel Research
Jack Taylor, founder of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, has donated $25 million to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis to create the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels. The Institute will expand the scientific expertise of the Danforth Center to speed development of plant-based, renewable biofuels by funding recruitment of a lead scientist credentialed in the area. Twelve more scientists will be recruited over the next three years. The Danforth Center currently employs 18 scientists.
Funding of the Center comes on the heels of Enterprise’s pledge to underwrite the planting of 50 million trees in national forests over the next 50 years – a commitment of $50 million in today’s dollars.
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Enterprise Signs Distribution Deal With Travelocity
Travelocity has renewed its alliance with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The relationship will enable Travelocity to remain a preferred partner of the rental car company. Customers renting Enterprise cars on Travelocity will receive special promotional offers, instant confirmation at the time of reservation, dedicated customer service to handle member issues and access to all Enterprise locations around the globe.
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Expedia Corporate Travel Launches Carbon Offset Program
Expedia Corporate Travel (ECT) has rolled out a carbon offset program for its customers. In partnership with TerraPass, a retailer of greenhouse gas reduction projects, ECT is giving businesses the ability to calculate the amount of carbon dioxide their employees’ business travel creates and buy the corresponding amount of carbon offsets. ECT says it will make its own travel program carbon neutral by the end of the year through the purchase of TerraPass carbon offsets.
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Expedia Signs Pact With Omni Hotels
Expedia Inc. has expanded and extended its multi-year partnership with Omni Hotels. The enhanced relationship provides Expedia customers complete access to Omni’s luxury hotels while providing Omni with online marketing opportunities across Expedia’s network of travel web sites.
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ExpressJet Lists Branded Flights On Worldspan GDS
ExpressJet Airlines and Worldspan have entered into a multi-year agreement. It is the first GDS partnership for ExpressJet, which will launch branded service in the spring. The Houston-based carrier, which has been operating solely as Continental Express, intends to provide point-to-point service between cities without nonstop service or with few flight options.
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ExpressJet To Operate Delta Connection Flights
ExpressJet has signed a two-year capacity purchase agreement with Delta to fly 10 regional jets under the Delta Connection brand, starting in June. Delta will be responsible for scheduling, marketing, pricing and revenue management on the aircraft and will collect all passenger revenue. ExpressJet will operate, maintain and finance the aircraft. ExpressJet also is a regional operator for Continental.
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Fairmont Plans Pittsburgh Hotel
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will manage a hotel to be housed in Three PNC Plaza, a building complex now under construction by the PNC Financial Services Group in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. The Fairmont Pittsburgh, expected to open in summer 2009, will be built according to sustainable design and construction guidelines. The hotel will have 185 guest rooms, approximately 12,000 square feet of meeting space, a lobby lounge and bar, a spa and fitness center and a three-meal restaurant. The complex also will include a 326,000-square-foot office building.
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Fairmont Takes Green Meetings Program Brand-wide
Fairmont Hotel & Resorts has made its Eco-Meet program of environmentally-friendly meeting services available brand-wide. Meeting planners wanting to "green" their events can work with Fairmont's staff to tailor aspects of this unique program, which consists of four key components:
* "disposable-free" food and beverage services and recycling stations in the meeting rooms, including china and cutlery used instead of disposal items, linen napkins instead of paper, and centerpieces that are edible/organic or made from reusable items such as silk flowers. White boards are used rather than paper flip charts.
* in-room information, recycling bins, optional sheet and towel replacement at select properties, energy-efficient lighting, and water-conserving showerheads, toilets and tap aerators.
* menus that incorporate local, seasonal and organically grown foods wherever possible, and offer a 50-percent reduction in animal proteins, supplemented by vegetable proteins at meal functions.
* activities and guest-speakers to complement the eco-sensitive experience.
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Frontier To Launch Jacksonville-Denver Service
Frontier Airlines will introduce daily, nonstop service between its Denver hub and Jacksonville on June 15. Frontier currently flies nonstop from Denver to four other Florida cities: Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Tampa and Orlando.
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GE Money Introduces vPayment Tool In Europe
GE Money has launched vPayment, its electronic settlement tool that works in tandem with a MasterCard purchasing card, in the European market. In the U.S. market since 2001, vPayment is used to settle bookings on behalf of intermediaries. The new European implementation will allow for settlement in pounds sterling and euros. Using vPayment, an intermediary such as a travel management company can accept a customer’s payment and then pay a supplier at a later date without manual intervention.
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Gol Agrees To Buy Varig For $275 Million
Gol, a low-fare airline in Brazil, has agreed to buy Varig for approximately $275 million in cash and stock. Gol will also assume $45 million of Varig’s debt. Gol said Varig would operate under its own brand and with differentiated services while incorporating Gol’s low-cost business model.
Gol and Varig will be managed independently. Gol will maintain focus on its single class of service in the Brazilian domestic market and South America. On long-haul, international routes, Varig will offer coach and business class service. In the domestic market, Varig will operate with a single-class of service, prioritizing flights between the main economic centers of Brazil, with principal bases of operation at Congonhas, Guarulhos, Santos Dumont and Galeao airports.
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Golden Tulip Enters Shanghai With Goal Of 199 More Across China
Golden Tulip Hospitality will manage its first hotel in China when it takes over the Shanghai Eastern Airline Hotel on April 1, renaming it the Golden Tulip Shanghai Riverside. The hotel, in the north of Shanghai, is a 10-minute drive from the railway station, 15 minutes from Hongqiao Airport and 45 minutes from Pudong Airport.
Golden Tulip's goal is to build a network of 200 hotels across China, according to Hans Kennedie, president and CEO of Golden Tulip Hospitality.
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HRG Acquires Washington DC’s Executive Travel Associates
Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) has acquired the business of Executive Travel Associates (ETA), a U.S. corporate travel specialist based in Washington, DC. ETA’s client portfolio includes professional companies, executive groups and government related departments. ETA will initially remain operating autonomously but will report to HRG’s North American Division, headed by Tom Gleason.
HRG’s earlier U.S. purchases were Sea Gate Travel Group (in April 2005) and Robustelli World Travel (in February 2006). Together with its existing operation in Canada, HRG North America’s workforce is now approximately 1,600.
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Hamilton Miller TMC Re-ups With Worldspan
Hamilton, Miller, Hudson & Fayne Travel Management Corporation (HMHF) of Southfield, Mich., has renewed its agreement with global travel technology provider Worldspan, L.P. The companies have reached a new five-year global travel distribution agreement, which includes HMHF's use of Worldspan's advanced travel technologies and e-commerce services, including Rapid Reprice and the e-Price pricing low fare shopping technology. HMHF is an affiliate of BCD Travel.
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Hampton To Open 140 Hotels This Year
Hampton, a Hilton-owned brand, has announced that it is on pace to open 140-plus hotels in 2007, surpassing its previous record of 127 openings, set in 1998. The brand will continue to target urban markets and western US, Canadian and Latin American destinations, where it currently has room for growth, according to Phil Cordell, senior vice president, Hampton brand management: "Since the merger between Hilton Hotels Corp. and Hilton International, we also have experienced increased interest in international development."
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Hawthorn Suites Rolls Out New Bedding
Hawthorn Suites, a Hyatt-owned extended-stay brand, is introducing a new bedding package called "Sweet Suite Bed" at all of its hotels. Beds will have a pillow-topped mattress; 250-thread count, white-on-white, striped sheeting; a matching duvet cover; linen Euro shams and other pillows.
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Hilton Garden Inn Opens In Columbus, Ohio
The 158-room Hilton Garden Inn Columbus/University Area, in Columbus, Ohio, has opened. The hotel has two lounge areas with a television and fireplace; five meeting rooms offering 2,900 square feet of flexible space; a 24-hour complimentary business center; and an on-site guest laundry facility.
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Hilton Sells Scandic Chain For $1.1B
Hilton Hotels Corp. has agreed to sell Scandic Hotels to private equity group EQT for approximately $1.1 billion. The transaction, which is subject to clearance by European Union regulators, is expected to be completed in April. Hilton intends to use the proceeds of the sale to pay down debt.
Hilton acquired Scandic last year when it merged with Hilton International. The company said in August that it expected to sell the chain, a mid-price brand with hotels mainly in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark.
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HRG Expands In North America
HRG (Hogg Robinson Group) North America says it is hiring more than 600 staff members and increasing office space as a result of new business wins and organic growth. The company is adding 40,000 square feet of space by mid-2007 in New York; Charlotte, N.C.; and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Even though HRG is increasing its office space, it expects to increase its reliance on home-based workers. Currently, 12 percent of HRG North America’s employees work at home. In the next 12 to 24 months, the company will be looking to increase that to 20 percent of its employee base. HRG’s expansion plans will be completed by the first quarter of 2007 with further development planned throughout the year.
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IHG To Open First Indigo In The Northeast
InterContinental Hotels Group announced plans for the first Hotel Indigo in the Northeast, in Rahway, N.J. The 102-room boutique hotel is scheduled to open in April 2008. Indigo is the newest brand in the IHG portfolio; 8 are in operation and another 40 are under development.
The announcement has come as IHG claims to have emerged as the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms, with the world’s largest development pipeline (nearly 158,000 rooms). It says that the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands are at the center of its growth.
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IHG-ANA Joint Venture Begins Rebranding Of 13 Hotels In Japan
The ANA Hotel Tokyo will be officially rebranded the ANA InterContinental Tokyo on April 1 as the first step in a hotel operating joint venture announced last winter by InterContinental Hotels Group and All Nippon Airways. Operating as
IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan, partnership plans to co-brand and renovate 13 hotels in Japan by 2009. All are currently operating under the ANA Hotels brand. After undergoing product, service and operational enhancements, they will be co-branded as ANA InterContinental, ANA Crowne Plaza or ANA Holiday Inn.
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Icelandair Selects New Terminal For Return To Minneapolis
When Icelandair resumes service to Minneapolis/St. Paul on March 15, flights will use the Humphrey Terminal. Icelandair says the terminal is "passenger friendly" with less congestion, cheaper parking and less walking.
Icelandair, which began service to Minneapolis/St. Paul in 1998, had flown from the Lindbergh Terminal. In the new location, Sun Country Airlines will replace Northwest Airlines as the handling agent.
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JAL Adds NYC-bound Flights
Japan Airlines (JAL) will introduce three additional weekly flights between New York and Tokyo on March 28. The newest flights provide alternatives for Asia-bound travelers with morning departures from New York and evening returns from Tokyo. JAL’s current schedule between New York and Tokyo includes one daily nonstop plus three weekly flights that extend to Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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JetBlue's Valentine Surprise: New Partner, New Service Standards
While JetBlue executives announced a marketing partnership with Cape Air on Feb. 14, a winter storm was beginning to ground its fleet and strand passengers at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. By the time the snow and ice had cleared, the airline had introduced both a new type of airline partnership and a Customer Bill of Rights setting performance standards for its customer service.
In the marketing agreement, JetBlue will place its code on flights operated to Nantucket (Massachusetts)by Cape Air, remitting an agreed-on price to the smaller airline for each combined ticket that’s sold. Travelers will be able to book a single itinerary to Nantucket from 20 JetBlue destinations, connecting in Boston and simplifying baggage check-in and transfer. Cape Air expects to increase its load factor from 53 percent to more than 60 percent, allowing it to offer average fare savings as high as 40 percent. Fares will be available after March 18 for service beginning on May 24. JetBlue says other airlines have expressed interest in similar deals.
It remains to be seen whether that interest will be cooled by the furor over JetBlue’s operations problems on Feb. 14, or fanned by the Customer Bill of Rights that emerged from the chaos. Comprised of a service guarantee and a compensation schedule if that promise is not met, the JetBlue plan calls for deplaning customers if an aircraft is prevented from taking off for five hours from its scheduled time. Selected situations that impede passengers’ journeys will set compensatory actions and payments into motion. The plan applies only when circumstances are within JetBlue’s control. Details, including exact compensation amounts, are on JetBlue’s web site.
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JetBlue’s Valentine Surprise: New Partner, New Service Standards
While JetBlue executives announced a marketing partnership with Cape Air on Feb. 14, a winter storm was beginning to ground its fleet and strand passengers at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. By the time the snow and ice had cleared, the airline had introduced both a new type of airline partnership and a Customer Bill of Rights setting performance standards for its customer service.
In the marketing agreement, JetBlue will place its code on flights operated to Nantucket (Massachusetts)by Cape Air, remitting an agreed-on price to the smaller airline for each combined ticket that’s sold. Travelers will be able to book a single itinerary to Nantucket from 20 JetBlue destinations, connecting in Boston and simplifying baggage check-in and transfer. Cape Air expects to increase its load factor from 53 percent to more than 60 percent, allowing it to offer average fare savings as high as 40 percent. Fares will be available after March 18 for service beginning on May 24. JetBlue says other airlines have expressed interest in similar deals.
It remains to be seen whether that interest will be cooled by the furor over JetBlue’s operations problems on Feb. 14, or fanned by the Customer Bill of Rights that emerged from the chaos. Comprised of a service guarantee and a compensation schedule if that promise is not met, the JetBlue plan calls for deplaning customers if an aircraft is prevented from taking off for five hours from its scheduled time. Selected situations that impede passengers’ journeys will set compensatory actions and payments into motion. The plan applies only when circumstances are within JetBlue’s control. Details, including exact compensation amounts, are on JetBlue’s web site.
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Lanyon Buys ETABid, Adding Depth To Sourcing Services
Lanyon, a provider of content-management technology for hotels, has agreed to acquire ETABid, maker of an electronic RFP tool. With this acquisition, Lanyon expands its market by adding eRFP software that enables corporate travel buyers to source travel management company services, ground transportation, self-booking tools and car rental.
The tool complements its hotel sourcing solution, RFP Control Center.
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Lufthansa A380 Test Flight Comes To NYC On March 19
Lufthansa will begin testing the Airbus A380, a super jumbo jet, in March. On March 19, the A380 will transport 500 passengers from Frankfurt to New York. Lufthansa also plans to fly the plane to Hong Kong and Washington.
Most of the passengers on the flight will be Lufthansa and Airbus employees, testing in-flight systems and equipment. Lufthansa has placed an order for 15 A380s, the most of any European airline. Lufthansa expects delivery of its first Airbus A380 in the summer of 2009.
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Midwest Still Fending Off AirTran, Announces New Service Plans
Holders of $21.6 million of Midwest Air Group debt have converted their respective positions to equity, eliminating an estimated $1.5 million in annual interest payments as the airline fends off a takeover bid from AirTran. At the same time, the airline has announced it will expand service to San Francisco and Fort Myers, Fla.
After being turned down by the Midwest board, AirTran tried to force the Milwaukee-based airline to turn over the shareholders’ names so it could make its offer directly. However, the New York Supreme Court ruled that Midwest is not required to grant such access.
Service to Fort Myers from Milwaukee and Kansas City will change from seasonal to year-round on May 1. Service from Kansas City will be nonstop year-round; from Milwaukee during the winter season only. Seasonal nonstop service between Milwaukee and San Francisco will be lengthened by two months, from May through October. Year-round service between the two cities will continue to stop in Kansas City.
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New Associates, China Southern About To Widen SkyTeam Network
SkyTeam has announced that three carriers — Air Europa, Copa Airlines and Kenya Airways — have signed agreements to become associates in the airline alliance after each meets a set of predetermined requirements in areas such as operations, information technology and products. In the meantime, China Southern Airlines, scheduled to achieve full membership in the alliance later this year, is preparing to service from its hub in Guangzhou to Cambodia, India, Japan, Laos, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria and Angola. The airline recently launched new routes to Lagos, Nigeria and Katmandu, Nepal.
To support its expansion, China Southern will add 68 new jets to its fleet by the end of the year, reaching a total of 440 aircraft. At the end of February, the airline was operating 82 international and regional services from its hubs in Guangzhou and Beijing. It also has regional hubs in Urumqi in northeast China and Shenyang in the northwest. From Guangzhou, it currently operates direct services to the major cities in North America, Europe, Australia, South East Asian areas, Japan and South Korea.
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Northwest To Acquire Mesaba
Northwest Airlines and Mesaba Airlines, a regional carrier that operates as Northwest Airlink, have signed a stock purchase and reorganization agreement under which Mesaba would become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northwest. Both airlines have been operating under bankruptcy protection. Both expect to exit from Chapter 11 this spring.
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Radius Tightens Focus On Multinational Market
Radius has formed a new management structure around the creation of the executive vice president role recently filled by Vicky Fernandez de Larrea. The restructuring includes establishment of a multinational corporate sales team headed up by Keith Haynes, senior vice president, and reporting to Fernandez. It also consolidates the shareholder operations and account management teams under Fernandez.
The multinational sales team will work with potential and existing corporate clients to consolidate travel management programs on a multinational, regional or global basis. They are supported by the regional vice presidents, serving as the primary liaison/account manager between Radius and its shareholder companies.
The sales team includes Carlos O. Gómez, regional vice president for Latin America; Kieran Hartwell, vice president for EMEA; Natasha Brawn, vice president for Asia Pacific; and account director Nigel Snowden. Gómez is also responsible for operation of the Radius global network in Latin America. Vice presidents holding similar responsibility are Peter Hvidberg for Europe & Africa; Stuart Wines for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East; and Maura Allen for North America. Allen, whose title also includes shareholder operations, formalizes her current role in central company projects and will be working on new initiatives to increase shareholder value globally.
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TRX Unveils a Trio Of Timely New Technologies
TRX has unveiled a pair of new products — a carbon emissions tracker and a data reporting platform — and promises the imminent release of a third, a Web 2.0-based upgrade of it RESX online booking engine. With the exception of two other upgrades to RESX, the announcements were the first product introductions the company has made in nearly a year. Each of the current three hits a current industry hot button.
The new RESX, billed as a complete redesign of the well-established corporate booking engine, includes a new user interface, updated workflow, improved navigation, an air pricing matrix, style sheets for corporate customization and branding, and a new user profile display. RESX has a new solution delivery team as well, focused on strengthening existing relationships, adding new ones, and streamlining its development cycle, including the ability to integrate with a variety of corporate expense reporting and management systems. Shane Hammond, currently executive vice president of TRX, will also serve as president of the new RESX Technologies unit; Vic Pynn, TRX chief operating officer, will assume responsibilities for sales and client services.
In the meantime, TRX’s Travel Analytics team has launched a carbon emissions model to help corporations detail the impact their travelers have on the environment. Corporations can use the model to learn how much carbon dioxide their air travel has emitted as well as how their program compares to industry averages. TRX has agreed to donate 15 percent of proceeds from sales of the model to Native Energy, which uses carbon offsets to help build wind energy projects on Native American and Native Alaskan land.
Finally, the company’s new TravelTrax data reporting platform is in beta, testing its ability to consolidate global travel data from more than 250 sources. Dashboard reporting lets subscribers view their company’s travel spending compared with their budget, manage supplier contracts and track employees’ spending patterns. The product will be available online as well as through travel agencies, airlines and corporate card issuers.
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UK Carrier To EU’s Alternate Airports Launches Web Check-in
VLM Airlines, a UK carrier focused on flying business travelers to regional airports close to European city centers, has introduced Internet check-in. Customers can check in from their home or office from 30 hours to two hours prior to departure on FlyVLM.com. The check-in tool allows customers to choose a seat and print a boarding pass, allowing them to proceed directly to airport security and onwards to the gate.
VLM, based at London City Airport, currently offers web check-in on all flights, with the exception of those departing from Luxembourg, Brussels and Jersey, U.K.
TRX has unveiled a pair of new products — a carbon emissions tracker and a data reporting platform — and promises the imminent release of a third, a Web 2.0-based upgrade of it RESX online booking engine. With the exception of two other upgrades to RESX, the announcements were the first product introductions the company has made in nearly a year. Each of the current three hits a current industry hot button.
The new RESX, billed as a complete redesign of the well-established corporate booking engine, includes a new user interface, updated workflow, improved navigation, an air pricing matrix, style sheets for corporate customization and branding, and a new user profile display. RESX has a new solution delivery team as well, focused on strengthening existing relationships, adding new ones, and streamlining its development cycle, including the ability to integrate with a variety of corporate expense reporting and management systems. Shane Hammond, currently executive vice president of TRX, will also serve as president of the new RESX Technologies unit; Vic Pynn, TRX chief operating officer, will assume responsibilities for sales and client services.
In the meantime, TRX’s Travel Analytics team has launched a carbon emissions model to help corporations detail the impact their travelers have on the environment. Corporations can use the model to learn how much carbon dioxide their air travel has emitted as well as how their program compares to industry averages. TRX has agreed to donate 15 percent of proceeds from sales of the model to Native Energy, which uses carbon offsets to help build wind energy projects on Native American and Native Alaskan land.
Finally, the company’s new TravelTrax data reporting platform is in beta, testing its ability to consolidate global travel data from more than 250 sources. Dashboard reporting lets subscribers view their company’s travel spending compared with their budget, manage supplier contracts and track employees’ spending patterns. The product will be available online as well as through travel agencies, airlines and corporate card issuers.
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United Strengthens Finances, Invests In Improved Web Site
United Airlines used cash to pay down $972 million of the original $3 billion loan it received upon emerging from Chapter 11, and refinanced the remaining $2 billion at a lower interest rate. It has also announced that frequent-flyer miles held in accounts inactive for 18 months will be expired. Customers can safeguard their endangered accounts either by buying a ticket or using their Mileage Plus Visa credit or debit card.
Concurrently, the United.com site had been upgraded with more flight-search capabilities (e.g., shopping by schedule, price or flexible dates), easier access to various functions and the ability to select and change seat assignments. Mileage Plus members can access past travel itineraries and see alternative dates for award tickets should their first choice be unavailable.
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US Airways Milestone: Investor In Merger Sells Off 6.5M Shares
PAR Investment Partners, one of the original investors in the September 2005 merger of US Airways and America West, has sold 6.5 million of its 13.5 million shares of US Airways stock as part of its portfolio diversification strategy. It may mark an important milestone in the merger, but the pilots of the two airlines still haven’t been able to negotiate a unified contract with the airline. They say their employer is “determined to force bankruptcy-era concessions into place.”
That matter may be settled by 2008, when the Department of Transportation decides who gets the nod to fly another new route to China. In the last round of applications for a U.S.-to-China route, American Airline’s bid was weakened by failure to have an agreement with its pilots.
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US Helicopter Adds Service From NYC’s 34th St. Heliport
US Helicopter has begun service between New York’s East 34th Street Heliport and JFK and Newark international airports. Initially, US Helicopter is operating afternoon service, with 10 flights to and from JFK and 10 flights to and from Newark.
US Helicopter already serves the Downtown Manhattan Heliport.
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Virgin America’s US Investors Increase Equity To Mollify DOT
Virgin America, a start-up that is seeking certification from the Department of Transportation, has received $30 million in additional equity and debt investment from its majority U.S. investors. In December, the DOT rejected Virgin America’s application to operate in the U.S. because the airline’s ownership structure did not meet federal regulations.
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Worldtek Travel Changes Hands, Splits Into Three Divisions
Douglas Knight, a former chief operating officer at Navigant International, has acquired the assets of New Haven, Conn.-based Worldtek Travel. The three main businesses of the TMC have been formally divided into separate divisions: Corporate Travel, Collegiate Travel and ResRunner, which provides online event management software and services.
The ResRunner technology was developed by Worldtek, which has built an extensive clientele since its debut six years ago. The customizable tool, designed to assist mid-market companies plan and manage meetings and events, automates and tracks attendee registrations for hotel rooms, event sessions and associated activities from invitation through walk-in registration, delivering standard and customized data reports throughout.
Vin Rosa has been named president of the ResRunner division. Both he and Knight were with McGregor Travel Management in Stamford, Conn., when it became one of the founding partners in Navigant International. When that company was acquired by Carlson Wagonlit Travel, both men became part of the CWT organization.
Worldtek, which has been in operation since 1966, was previously owned and operated by brothers Vito “Topper” Luciani and the late Ken Luciani.
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iJet Enhances Expatriate Tracker
iJET Intelligent Risk Systems has enhanced its Worldcue Expatriate Risk Management solution, improving the ability of organizations to find and communicate with their expatriates and families, whether they are at their assigned work location or traveling. In addition to automated trip tracking, expatriates can now manually register non-commercial flights on military aircraft or private planes. Expanded emergency profiles enable employers to collect and store more information about expatriates and their families, including health conditions, pets, vehicles, images, copies of passports and dental records. Enhanced personalization options enable organizations to send personalized messages to expatriates.
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iJet To Launch Webinar Series On March 27
iJET Intelligent Risk Systems will launch its Executive Webinar Series on March 27 with a free session based on its proprietary Travel Risk Management Maturity Model, a framework that enables organizations to assess and benchmark their travel risk-management programs. Webinar participants will be guided through an assessment of their own managed travel programs, enabling them to begin benchmarking their programs against others.
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InterContinental To Manage Hotel In Kiev
InterContinental Hotels Group has signed an agreement to manage the InterContinental Kiev in the Ukrainian capital. The new-build hotel will open in the first quarter of 2008 and comprise 280 guestrooms over 12 floors. The InterContinental Kiev will feature two bars and restaurants, one of which will be positioned on the rooftop. The hotel will cater to international and domestic business travelers, offering a choice of meeting rooms and a ballroom.
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ITM Launches Toolkit To Help Reduce Travel's Environmental Impact
The Institute of Travel Management (ITM) launched its Environmental Impact Reduction Toolkit this week at its 2007 conference in Edinburgh. The toolkit is part of ITM’s CSR initiative "Project ICARUS," launched at the end of 2006. The association has received government funding of £100,000 for the project and is working alongside Cranfield University’s Department of Air Transport during the first phase.
By the end of June, ITM expects to unveil a set of environmental accreditation standards designed to recognize buyers who undertake carbon reduction programs. Later this year, it will launch an awards process to recognize suppliers’ innovation and leadership in environmental impact reduction.
A full description of the program is available on the institute's web site www.itm.org.uk, and in this month's issue of Business Travel Executive magazine www.askBTE.com
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ITM Survey Measures Progress In Meetings Management
Results of a just-published survey by the Institute of Travel Management shows that "there is still limited control of MICE expenditure through policy, authorization processes and compliance measurements," says Paul Tilstone, executive director of ITM. The survey was conducted among 120 business travel buyers — about 40 percent of the FTSE Top 100 companies. Among the findings:
65 percent of travel buyers also manage meetings;
67 percent manage conferences;
60 percent manage events expenditures.
The survey also reveals that despite the trend towards consolidating expenditure, traditional TMCs have not overtaken specialist venue sourcing and event management agencies in popularity amongst buyers. Although 60 percent deploy a combination of the two, 41 percent of survey respondents rated their specialist meetings agency as excellent or good compared, to 25 percent for the equivalent service provided by a TMC.
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JetBlue Launches Service From White Plains, NY
JetBlue Airways has begun daily, nonstop service between White Plains’ Westchester County Airport and Orlando. Beginning April 2, the low-cost carrier will offer one daily nonstop to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, and a second daily flight to Orlando from Westchester.
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Kor To Open Hotel In Vancouver
Kor Hotel Group plans to open Loden in Vancouver this summer, marking the company’s first foray into Canada. The hotel will be housed in a 14-story tower in Coal Harbour, an upscale, residential neighborhood at the edge of Vancouver's financial district. Crowning the mixed-use structure will be a rooftop deck with a lap pool, private cabanas, an outdoor fireplace and a lounge area within a garden setting. A second-floor fitness center will offer 1,000 square feet of space complete with personal trainers available upon request. The 130-room hotel will include 10 suites, a lobby-level restaurant and bar and four banquet rooms.
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Marriott To Open Business Hotel In New Orleans Area
The New Orleans Marriott Metairie at Lakeway is due to open this spring. The 220-room hotel, specifically designed for business travelers, has 33 suites, a wireless concierge level and 6,500 square feet of meeting space. In guest rooms, 32-inch plasma screen televisions can interface with laptop computers and offer a split screen to display television and computer screen simultaneously.
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Mexicana To Launch Two Routes From L.A.
Mexicana will launch twice-weekly, nonstop service between Los Angeles and Monterrey, Mexico, on March 17. Twice-weekly service between Los Angeles and Culiacan, Mexico will start in April.
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Microtel Rolls Out 'Dream Well' Bedding Upgrade
Economy chain Microtel Inns & Suites has introduced a new bedding initiative known as "Dream Well." The new bedding will be in all Microtels by July 31. Microtel's new bedding includes a plush-top mattress pad; a fitted bed skirt; 200-thread-count white and khaki-piped linens with triple sheeting; a down-like blanket; a decorative top sheet and bed scarf; and additional pillows.
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Midwest Plans Launch Of Service To Raleigh/Durham
Midwest Airlines will launch nonstop Midwest Connect service between Milwaukee and Raleigh/Durham, N.C. on June 1. That same day, the airline plans to fly larger aircraft and add seasonal frequency in three other Midwest Connect markets: Milwaukee-Baltimore/Washington, Milwaukee-Des Moines and Milwaukee-Marquette, Mich.
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Midwest To Beef Up Service From Kansas City
Midwest Airlines will add flights on five nonstop routes from Kansas City. Beginning May 1, the airline will go from one to three roundtrips to Boston on weekdays; go from two to three roundtrips to Los Angeles daily; add a second roundtrip to Orlando; and go from one to two nonstop to San Diego daily. Beginning June 1, Midwest will enhance its Kansas City-San Francisco schedule, increasing from one to two roundtrip flights daily.
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Midwest To Launch Omaha-LAX Service
Midwest Airlines on May 1 will begin nonstop service between Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Neb., and Los Angeles International Airport. Midwest will be the only airline to offer nonstop service in the market.
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My Home Doctor Launches Traveler Service In Miami
My Home Doctor, a group of physicians that provide personal and preventive medical care in a home, office or hotel room, has launched an international traveler service. The new division will focus on treating travelers who come to Miami on business or for vacation. My Home Doctor visits start at $300, a cost that is partially reimbursed by select insurance companies or applied toward a deductible.
The new service is currently in investment rounds, according to a company spokesman. Once funding is secured, it will begin to move into other cities.
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Names In The News 3/01/07
Benchmark Hospitality has named Claudine Sidney director of conference services for the Heldrich, a mixed-use property nearing completion in New Brunswick, N.J. Sidney was most recently the assistant director of event services at the Hilton in Short Hills, N.J. The Heldrich has also named Stacie DeMicco senior conference planning manager. DeMicco was previously conference planning manager at North Maple Inn in Basking Ridge, N.J.
Boyd Gaming has appointed Peter Finamore senior vice president of operations and Sid Vaikunta senior vice president of operations and marketing for Echelon Resorts, a subsidiary of Boyd Gaming that is developing Echelon Place, a four-hotel complex on the Las Vegas Strip. Prior to joining Echelon, Finamore served as vice president of hospitality at the Borgata in Atlantic City. Vaikunta previously held the position of vice president of marketing for the Borgata.
Hyatt Regency Chicago has announced that Jerry Gibson and Patrick Donelly have returned as vice president/managing director and general manager, respectively. Gibson, who has 26 years with Hyatt, served was GM at the hotel from 1997 to 1999 and most recently was at Grand Hyatt New York. Donelly served as Hyatt’s regional F&B director at Hyatt Regency Chicago from 1991-1995. A 20-year Hyatt veteran, he returns to the hotel from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare.
NBTA Foundation has appointed new members to its board of trustees: Bindu Bhatia, vice president of global sales for North America, Carlson Wagonlit Travel; Mary Casey, vice president of strategic account management, Starwood Hotels & Resorts; Denise Lodrige-Kover, vice president, BTS & strategic partnership accounts, Hilton Hotels Corp.; and Norma Rohrbach, vice president of global services sourcing, Citigroup. The outgoing board members are Fay Beauchine, Carlson Cos.; Mathias Friess, Virgin Blue; Susan Jacobs, Visa USA; and Jack O'Neill, Carlson Wagonlit Travel.
Sea Island Company has announced the appointment of Susan Kelly as vice president for resort sales and marketing, with responsibility for marketing operations pertaining to the Resort in Georgia, including the recently renovated The Cloister, The Lodge and The Spa at Sea Island.
Skywest, which operates regional service for other airlines, has named Eric Woodward controller, responsible for financial planning, accounting, SEC reporting, internal controls and managing contract issues with its major customers: Delta, United and Midwest. Woodward replaces Chip Childs, who recently had been named SkyWest’s president and chief operating officer.
Small Luxury Hotels of the World has named Nikki Harrison vice president of global marketing, based in the company’s headquarters just outside of London. Harrison was with Travelport, where she was the regional marketing manager of its Travel Distribution Services division.
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Names In The News 3/08/07
Ambassadors has named Ed Berriman an account executive for its conference, events and incentive travel division. Located in the greater Boston area, Berriman will be responsible for business development throughout the Northeast corridor. Berriman has more than 10 years of experience in leading corporate meetings and incentive travel companies, supporting such clients as Xerox, Reebok, The Hartford Financial, Konica, Yellow Freight Systems and ABF Freight.
American Airlines has named Ron Olson general manager of Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. He replaces the retiring general manager Rex Tolschin. Olson will have responsibility for the airlines' staff of 195 employees and for all operations at the airport. He joined American in 1983 and has worked in a variety of positions, most recently as ramp manager at San Francisco International Airport.
InterContinental Hotels Group has named Jill Cady vice president of worldwide sales strategy. Cady will take an active role in setting and delivering IHG’s account management strategy for top customer accounts in order to increase IHG’s market share. She is also responsible for leading the engagement between the global and hotel sales teams to deliver a consistent sales experience across all regions. Most recently, Cady was IHG’s director of global sales strategy and systems.
JetBlue Airways has named Russ Chew chief operating officer. Chew joins JetBlue after four years with the Federal Aviation Administration as chief operating officer. Before that, he was with American Airlines as managing director of the system operations center.
TradeWinds Island Resorts in St. Pete Beach, Fla., has promoted Elisha Nahir Pena to executive meetings manager. Her primary responsibilities are handling groups that require 10 to 29 rooms and maintaining the Preferred Partners program. Kimberly Ross has been named national sales manager for specialty markets, including sporting events and group travel. Previously, Pena served as a vacation adviser for the TradeWinds properties, assisting guests in booking and answering inquiries. Ross has worked in several different departments at TradeWinds since 1996.
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Names In The News 3/15/07
Carlson Wagonlit Travel has promoted Mike Koetting to the newly created position of executive vice president, global supplier management. Koetting has also been named to the CWT global executive team, remaining a member of the CWT North American executive team. In his new role, Koetting is responsible for developing partnerships with suppliers and supervising the airline, hotel, car rental and GDS agreements CWT has on a global, regional and national level. All global and regional supplier relations teams at CWT now report to him. Koetting was executive vice president, CWT North America, responsible for finance, supplier relations and marketing.
Columbia Hospitality, which operates hotels and conference centers in the Pacific Northwest, has named Patrick Goodwin chief financial officer. In addition to being responsible for all of the financial and accounting activities for Columbia Hospitality and its portfolio properties, Goodwin will oversee insurance and risk management programs, contract negotiations and performance-improvement programs.
Crestline Hotels & Resorts has named Connie Brewer director of sales and marketing for the Crowne Plaza in Williamsburg, Va. Brewer was vice president of sales and marketing for LAP Hospitality.
Delta has promoted Joanne Smith, currently vice president of marketing, to senior vice president of in-flight service and global product development. She will replace Paulette Corbin, who is retiring. Tim Mapes, currently managing director of marketing and cultural transformation, has been promoted to vice president of marketing, filling the vacancy left by Smith. Sandy Gordon, currently managing director of in-flight service, has been promoted to vice president of in-flight service operations and training.
eLong, an online travel agency in China that is majority-owned by Expedia, has named Henrik Kjellberg to replace Barney Harford as chairman. Kjellberg is president of Expedia Asia Pacific and has been a board member of eLong since October 2005. Harford remains a member of the eLong board of directors. eLong also appointed Chris Chan chief financial officer, replacing Tony Shen, who has acted as interim CFO since last July. Prior to joining eLong, Chan was finance director of Pepsico China Beverages.
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels has named Peter Papadimitropoulos group CEO. Mr. Papas, as he is better known, will be relocating to London from South Africa. He had previously been a non-executive director at Peermont Global Ltd., a company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange that operates hotels, resorts, convention centers and casinos.
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Names In The News 3/22/07
Carlson Wagonlit Travel has named Douglas Anderson its new executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective April 16. Anderson will be based in Paris. He had spent 25 years at United Parcel Service of America (UPS), most recently as senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer of the UPS Logistics Group. He will succeed Tim Hennessy, who will leave the company at the end of May.
Hudson Crossing, a new strategic advisory firm targeted to travel suppliers that will use data and research from PhoCusWright, has announced its partners: Tom Botts, most recently vice president of global travel industry sales and strategy with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide; Andy Hermo, formerly leader of global reengineering and strategy for The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation; George Roukas, formerly group vice president of product management for Travelport; and Ed Silver, most recently president of The Silver Group, a technology strategy & advisory firm and the former COO of Lodging.com. Mike McCormick, most recently executive vice president of Cendant's hospitality and leisure group, is managing partner. Tom Christopoul, most recently chairman and CEO of the marketing services division of Cendant Corporation, is chairman.
InterContinental Hotels Group has appointed Sarah Marron director of global sales, Middle East, to manage a newly structured global sales team based in Dubai. Marron joins IHG from Steigenberger Hotel Group, where she was director of key accounts, U.K. and Ireland.
JetBlue has named Alex Battaglia vice president, JFK Airport, effective April 2. Battaglia comes to JetBlue following a 24-year career with Delta Air Lines in roles of increasing responsibility, culminating in the position of director, JFK operations.
Karisma Hotels and Resorts, a luxury hotel collection in the Riviera Maya, Mexico, has named Ileana Rousseau sales director. Rousseau will focus on meetings and incentive groups. She most recently held the title of director of corporate sales at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
The Renaissance Worthington Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas, has appointed Jim Gabler director of sales and marketing. Before joining the Renaissance Worthington, Gabler had been director of sales and marketing at the Adams Mark Hotel in Dallas.
UATP, the airline-owned corporate travel payment network, is expanding its business operations to China with the addition of Steven Luan as regional commercial manager. Luan has 10 years of sales experience forging relationships with airlines and facilitating sales of aircraft and helicopters.
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Names In The News 3/29/07
American Airlines has named Kevin Cox vice president of state and community affairs. He succeeds John Carpenter, who recently retired. Cox, who formerly was senior executive vice president and chief operating officer for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, will be based at American's headquarters in Fort Worth, taking on oversight responsibilities for relationships with state and local governments. The airline’s state and community affairs group also has offices in Chicago, Miami and New York.
Barcelo Hotels & Resorts today has appointed Annette Carollo director of meeting and incentive sales for the Midwest, based in Chicago. She joins Barcelo from the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort, where she was regional sales manager.
Benchmark Hospitality International has appointed Eric Terry vice president of sales and marketing. Terry most recently was president of Xelerate Group, a Dallas-based marketing agency he launched in 2002.
Classic British Hotels has appointed Alan Palmer as its first reservations and e-distribution director. Palmer joins Classic British Hotels from Maybourne Hotel Group (operators of London’s The Berkeley, Claridge's and The Connaught properties), where he was director of reservations. He has also been with Best Western Hotels, where he was head of reservations and database operations.
Kerzner International has named Robert Cotter president of the company, a developer and operator of resorts, including Atlantis, Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Cotter was president and chief operating officer of Starwood Hotels & Resorts between 2003 and 2005.
Saflink Corp., founder of the FLO (Fast Lane Option) registered traveler program, has appointed Fred Fischer senior vice president of strategic sales. Fischer will be responsible for sales of FLO to corporations, travel management companies, airlines, credit card companies and retail partners. Fischer previously held a similar position at Verified Identity Pass, owner of the Clear registered traveler program.
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NBTA Financial Forum Moves To Larger Space To Accommodate Registration
The National Business Travel Association has contracted for a larger space to host its inaugural NBTA Business Travel Financial Forum, to be held March 26 at the Crowne Plaza Times Square Hotel in New York. The NBTA had closed registration at 175 attendees, but continued to receive calls from people who wanted to register. The Association says it now can accommodate 225 attendees with the extra space.
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NBTA Rebrands Canadian Organization
The National Business Travel Association announced at the annual conference of its Canadian Alliance of Business Travel this week in Toronto that the organization is being renamed NBTA-Canada. The Alliance became part of NBTA in 2004.
The transition to the new NBTA-Canada brand will be completed over the course of several weeks. The new name and logo are already in place; a new web site will be up and running soon at www.nbtacanada.org. In the meantime, that URL points to the organization’s old web site, which continues to offer all the same information and member resources.
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NBTA Releases 2008 Hotel RFP
The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) Hotel Committee has released its 2008 Modular Hotel Request for Proposal (RFP), with changes aimed at providing more clarifications for fields within the document. The enhancements are the result of feedback and collaboration between corporations, hotels and third-party vendors in a continued effort to promote a common standard throughout the hotel industry.
The committee releases the RFP in the first quarter of each year in order to provide the supplier community with adequate time to make adjustments for the next pricing season. The ultimate goal of the committee is to increase adoption of a standard RFP, thus enabling buyers and suppliers to realize incremental time savings and improved data quality throughout the negotiation process.
The NBTA Hotel RFP is available free of charge to the members of the Association.
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nuTravel To Use G2’s Direct-Connect Technology
nuTravel and G2 SwitchWorks have signed a multi-year contract providing mutual nuTravel and G2 customers with G2’s direct-booking services. CTS, nuTravel’s corporate booking tool, will offer direct-connect bookings to American, Delta, Continental, Northwest, US Airways, AirTran, Alaska Airlines and United. The direct-connect availability is integrated into the booking tool’s matrix display for booking, ticketing and servicing capabilities.
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Oakwood To Open Luxury Apartments In Tokyo
Oakwood Worldwide will open the doors to Oakwood Premier Tokyo Midtown, 107 furnished and serviced luxury apartments in the new Tokyo Midtown development, on March 30. The apartments, Oakwood’s first luxury endeavor in Japan, provide extended-stay accommodation for business travelers.
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Oneworld Adding 10 Members On April 1
The oneworld airline alliance has confirmed the April 1 entry date for of LAN Argentina and LAN Ecuador as affiliate members. that is the same day that Japan Airlines (JAL), Malév Hungarian Airlines and Royal Jordanian Airlines begin offering services and benefits as full members. Five other members of the JAL Group will also join oneworld on the same day, as affiliates: JALways, Japan Asia Airways, JAL Express, J-AIR and Japan Transocean Air.
Dragonair, which has also been elected on board the grouping as an affiliate member, will follow later this year, after all necessary joining technicalities and processes have been completed.
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Orbitz For Business Customers Get Access To Mobile Service
Orbitz For Business customers now can use OrbitzTLC Mobile Access, a wireless service that enables travelers to check travel itineraries through any web-enabled cell phone. The tool also allows customers to retrieve flight status information for dozens of airlines and last-minute hotel availability in 20 U.S. markets. OrbitzTLC Mobile Access was introduced to Orbitz.com customers last August. The feature is free and available 24/7.
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Pegasus Tapping China's Jinling Hotel Company Into Global Market
Pegasus Solutions has signed an agreement with a large hotel group in China, Jinling Hotels & Resorts. Under this agreement, Pegasus will enable Jinling Hotels & Resorts to expand its presence worldwide and tap into new revenue streams using Pegasus’ Utell representation service. The Utell service allows for Jinling to be connected to all global GDSs and more than 1,000 Web sites. The service also provides Jinling with a central reservation system, marketing programs and promotion to international travel agents through Pegasus’ sales force.
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Premier Hotel Introduces Allergen-friendly Rooms
The Premier Hotel in New York’s Times Square (a Millennium Hotels and Resorts property) has unveiled its "Premier Pure" rooms, which feature an allergen-friendly environment. The hotel said that its 16 Premier Pure guest rooms are 98 percent free of bacteria and viruses, which are eliminated via a purification technique.
The process, designed by Pure Solutions, ensures that heaters and air conditioners are deep-cleaned and sanitized, then equipped with the company’s patented Tea Tree Oil Cartridge. Tea tree oil is an all-natural antiseptic and disinfectant. Soft surfaces are cleansed and sanitized to eliminate contaminants that trigger allergies. The room also undergoes a high ozone shock treatment to kill any of the remaining living organisms and their associated odors. A bacteriostatic barrier called Pure Shield is then applied on virtually all surfaces to minimize the growth of bacteria. An air purification system maintains ideal conditions in the room. In addition, micro-fiber, hypo-allergenic pillow cases and mattress covers are used in the room.
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Qantas To Increase New York-to-Sydney Service
Qantas Airways plans to augment its service from New York-JFK on Aug. 14 to offer daily direct flights to Sydney via Los Angeles. The airline offers a total of 35 flights from Los Angeles. The additional flights meet the increasing demand for seamless travel to Australia from New York, said Qantas.
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Radisson To Open In Alexandria, Egypt
The Rezidor Hotel Group plans to open the Radisson Hotel Alexandria in Alexandria, Egypt, in the first quarter of 2009. The 270-room hotel will be located in Alex West, a new suburb 10 minutes west of Alexandria City that has apartments, townhouses, villas, three hotels, a conference center, restaurants, a shopping mall and a golf course.
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RegionsAir Grounding By FAA Cancels Some American, Continental Flights
RegionsAir, which had been operating as AmericanConnection out of St. Louis to nine cities and Continental Connection out of Cleveland to three West Virginia cities, ceased scheduled operations on March 8. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded RegionsAir because of problems with the carrier’s training and certification program. It was the second time in a week that the carrier was grounded by the FAA. American has said it will, without penalty, rebook passengers whose flights had been cancelled or offer full refunds for the portion of their travel affected by the cancellations.
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Rezidor To Manage Airport Hotels In Ireland And Belgium
The Rezidor Hotel Group will take over the management of the three former Great Southern Airport Hotels in Ireland. The properties at Dublin Airport (229 rooms) and Cork Airport (81 rooms) will be managed as Radisson SAS hotels, and the property at Shannon Airport (115 rooms) will become a Park Inn. Rezidor is also managing the new, 100-room Park Inn Liege Hotel at the new passenger terminal of Liege Airport in Belgium.
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Ritz-Carlton Near Palm Springs To Open This Winter
The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage is scheduled to open in the early winter of 2007. The resort will have 244 rooms and suites, 154 residences, a spa, nearly 20,000 square feet of meeting space and celebrity chef restaurants. The resort is located on a 650-foot bluff overlooking Palm Springs, Calif., the Coachella Valley and the San Jacinto Mountains.
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SAA Launches Summer Flights To Kilimanjaro
South African Airways has announce the launch of its new summer route (available from July 7 through September 29) between Johannesburg, South Africa, and Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, further expanding destination options for travelers across the African continent.
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Sabre Settles Merger-related Lawsuit
Sabre Holdings has entered into memoranda of understanding with plaintiffs’ counsel and other named defendants regarding the settlement of a purported class-action lawsuit (the McBride case) and a purported derivative action (the Holowach case), brought on behalf of Sabre stockholders. Both cases were filed in the District Court for the State of Texas in Tarrant County following the Dec. 12 announcement of the planned merger of Sabre Holdings and subsidiaries of Silver Lake Partners and Texas Pacific Group. Sabre anticipates that stockholders will approve the acquisition by Silver Lake and Texas Pacific, with the deal closing on or about March 30.
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Sabre To Lower Costs To Attract Financing
Sabre is meeting with potential lenders this week to discuss financing for the proposed acquisition of the company by Texas Pacific Group and Silver Lake Partners, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Sabre says it intends to inform potential lenders about a cost-reduction program that it expects will save the company at least $120 million per year by the second quarter of 2009. Sabre expects savings to come from each business unit in technology infrastructure, operations and administrative functions. The company anticipates that its stockholders will approve the $5 billion acquisition by Texas Pacific Group and Silver Lake Partners on March 23, and that the acquisition will close on or about March 30.
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Shangri-La Opens Hotel In Guangzhou
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has opened its 150th facility, the Shangri-La Hotel Guangzhou, adjacent to the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre, in the heart of the new Guangzhou business district. The 704-room hotel offers the largest guest rooms in the city with a minimum size of 452 square feet. Those who stay in one of the 108 Horizon Club rooms get access to an executive lounge with panoramic views of the city, personalized check-in, a complimentary breakfast buffet, all-day refreshments and afternoon and evening cocktails with canapes.
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Sheraton Adds Two More Hotels In Japan To Starwood Portfolio
Two new Sheraton hotels have been opened in Japan by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide under a franchise agreement with Kintetsu Hotel Systems, Inc., the hotel operating division of Kintetsu Corporation. The Miyako Tokyo Hotel will be re-flagged as the Sheraton Miyako Hotel Tokyo, providing 492 rooms and ample meeting facilities in one of Tokyo's busiest neighborhoods. The Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka, previously known as the Miyako Osaka Hotel, will offer 575 rooms to guests visiting Osaka, Japan's second largest city and one of its most important industrial centers. Both hotels will be re-flagged in April 2007.
Starwood currently operates 14 hotels and resorts in Japan under the Le Meridien, Sheraton and Westin brand portfolios.
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Silverjet Now Takes American Express
Silverjet has finalized a merchant agreement with American Express to accept payments with the American Express Card for all Silverjet bookings. Silverjet, which launches earlier this year, operates all-business-class service between New York and London Luton Airport.
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Singapore Airlines Signs Codeshare Pact With US Airways
In June, US Airways and Singapore Airlines plan to start codesharing. US Airways customers traveling to Singapore will be able to connect on Singapore Airlines’ nonstop service from Los Angeles. Singapore Airlines customers traveling to Phoenix and Las Vegas will be able to do so by connecting via Los Angeles or San Francisco on US Airways flights. Also, customers heading to Charlotte, N.C., will be able to catch a connecting US Airways flight at New York’s JFK Airport.
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Sol Melia Opens Hotel In Chile
Sol Melia has opened its first resort in Chile, the Melia Patagonia in Puerto Varas. The 91-room hotel has four meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 1,000 guests.
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Southwest To Add 18 Flights This Summer
Southwest Airlines says the scheduled delivery of several new Boeing aircraft is allowing it to add 18 flights in 15 cities in June, July and August. The expansion includes the addition of five daily nonstops between Denver and Oakland, Calif., on June 17.
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St. Regis Hotel To Open In Tibet
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has agreed to manage the St. Regis Resort, Lhasa, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, a province in southwest China. The 169-room hotel is scheduled to open in January 2010. Its facilities will include 50 villa-style suites, 9,000 square feet of meeting space, three restaurants, a health club and spa, an indoor heated pool and a business center.
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Starhotels To Open Airport Hotel In Milan
Starhotels, an Italian collection of four-star hotels that targets business travelers, has set a June opening for its new Grand Milan in Saronno, Italy, which has the only stop on the train connecting Milan's business center to Milano/Malpensa International Airport. The hotel is four minutes from the Saronno train station.
The 248-room hotel includes 16 conference rooms, a business center and Wi-Fi available throughout. It is the chain's 20th in Italy; it also operates one hotel in Paris and one in New York.
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Starwood To Manage W In Downtown New York
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has agreed to operate the W New York-Downtown Hotel & Residences, a luxury property in downtown Manhattan that will have 217 guest rooms and 222 residential units. Located at 123 Washington Street, one block from the site of the new Freedom Tower, the W New York-Downtown is due to open in 2008, with residential sales expected to begin in mid-2007. The hotel will be the sixth W in the Big Apple.
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Starwood To Operate W In Guangzhou
Starwood Hotels has announced that the W Guangzhou will open in 2010, offering 320 guest rooms and 167 luxury residences. The hotel will be located in Zhujiang New Town, an extension of the city’s existing central business district anticipated to become the new recreation and entertainment center in Guangzhou.
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Staybridge Has Big Plans For San Antonio
InterContinental Hotels Group says it intends to add four Staybridge Suites hotels in San Antonio, Texas, by 2009, tripling its presence in the city. IHG says the city is an ideal market for Staybridge, with demand for extended-stay lodging currently greater than supply. The first of these properties is expected to open this summer, followed by two in spring 2008 and another in early 2009.
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Swissotel Stays In Chicago
Swissotel Hotels & Resorts says its management contract for the brand’s flagship U.S. property, the Swissotel Chicago, has been renewed by the hotel's owner, Host Hotels & Resorts. The 632-room property was flagged with the Swissôtel brand in 1988.
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Swissotel Tweaks Loyalty Program
Swissotel has relaunched its Club Swiss Gold loyalty program, lengthening its Elite membership for frequent guests to 24 months instead of 12. Elite membership includes complimentary Internet access, breakfast daily and access to the Swiss Executive Club Lounge. Under the new program, Classic membership is available to all guests who sign up online at Swissotel‘s web site. They can print out a temporary membership card after completing online registration.
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TLG Travel Management Formed By 4 East Coast Agencies
Four travel agencies, all of which are Carlson Wagonlit Travel franchisees, have formed TLG Travel Management to collectively offer corporate travel services to clients. The agencies, which remain individually owned, are GTI Travel of Jenkintown, Pa; Travel World of Clifton, N.J.; Travel Gems of New York; and Travel Express of Nashua, N.H.
The initials "TLG" come from Carlson's The Leaders Group, which is comprised of the 50 top corporate agencies in the Carlson associate network. There are about 750 agencies in that network.
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Travelport Borrows $1.1 Billion To Pay Shareholders
Travelport, parent of Orbitz and Galileo, has completed the borrowing of $1.1 billion of senior unsecured payment-in-kind (PIK) term loans through a syndicate group of banks. Travelport intends to use the net proceeds to pay a dividend to its shareholders.
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Travelport To Reduce Its Orbitz Stake In IPO
Travelport, parent company Orbitz Worldwide, intends to sell a portion of its ownership interest in Orbitz’s business-to-consumer business in an initial public offering. The size of the stake to be sold and the amount of proceeds to be received from the disposition of Orbitz have not yet been determined. A portion of the proceeds will be used by Travelport to reduce its outstanding debt. Travelport expects to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the second quarter of 2007, and anticipates that the transaction will be completed in the third quarter of 2007.
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TRX Releases Version 6.3 Of RESX Booking Tool
TRX has updated its RESX booking tool. New features in RESX v6.3 are a simultaneous search for air, car, and hotel options on the home page; a matrix display for air search results; airline and rental car logos with the company name; hotel locations on an interactive map; hotel photos along with descriptions; drop-downs for the profile and help sections; and a new layout of the administration section that enables administrators to more easily navigate the setup and configuration options.
Many of the new features have been accomplished with the use of AJAX technology, which is described in the March issue of Business Travel Executive magazine.
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U.S. And EU Reach Tentative Open-Skies Deal
The U.S. and the European Union have drafted an aviation agreement that could increase competition in the transatlantic market. The deal would give U.S. and E.U. airlines the right to operate service from any European Union nation to any U.S. city. Also, according to the E.U., the deal would give E.U. investors "rights in the area of ownership, investment and control of U.S. airlines." Under current rules, foreign investors are allowed only a 25 percent stake in a U.S. airline. If European transport ministers and the U.S. Congress approve the open-skies agreement, it would take effect on Oct. 28. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, which could face increased competition at tightly regulated Heathrow Airport under an open-skies pact, oppose the U.S.-E.U. deal.
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UATP Adds ExpressJet
ExpressJet Airlines now accepts the UATP card as a form of payment for corporate travelers. In April, ExpressJet will inaugurate flight service to 24 cities across the West Coast, Southeast and Midwest regions.
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United Launches Washington-Beijing Service
United Airlines has inaugurated service between Washington Dulles and Beijing. United’s China includes a network of 16 connections in China through United's codeshare alliances with Air China and Shanghai Airlines. Another codeshare agreement permits US Airways to provide its customers access to the China market.
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US Airways Refinances Debt
US Airways Group has completed a $1.6 billion debt refinancing, which it says will improve liquidity over the next seven years by reducing principal payments and lowering near-term interest expense. Upon funding, the company extinguished two separate debt facilities: a $1.25 billion senior secured credit facility and a $325 million unsecured debt facility. The additional $25 million will be used for general corporate purposes.
The refinancing will reduce US Airways’ debt amortization by approximately $92 million annually from 2008 to 2010 and $1.23 billion in 2011. In addition, interest expense will be reduced by approximately $14 million in 2007 and $13 million in 2008.
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US Airways Seeks To Refinance Debt As Machinists File Lawsuit
US Airways has entered into a commitment letter with Citigroup Global Markets and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding to arrange a debt-financing transaction of up to $1.6 billion. The airline says the deal would allow it to refinance $1.25 billion of its existing senior secured credit facility, refinance $325 million of unsecured debt and raise incremental liquidity.
Meanwhile, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has filed a federal lawsuit challenging US Airways’ use of bankruptcy court to avoid an arbitration case stemming from a union grievance regarding pay raises. IAM said that US Airways last week filed a complaint in bankruptcy court asking a judge to block a grievance arbitration scheduled to begin this week, prompting the IAM suit.
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US Airways To Apply For Philadelphia-Shanghai Route
US Airways plans to apply for Philadelphia-Shanghai service later this year when the U.S. Department of Transportation calls for 2008 U.S.-China applications. If approved by the DOT, the service would begin in March 2008.
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US Airways’ Flight Attendants 'Frustrated' By Slow Merger
Flight attendants at US Airways and America West Airlines, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, say they are "furious with management over slow-paced contract negotiations and with rampant violations of both existing contracts." Negotiations to merge the US Airways and America West flight attendant contracts began in January 2006, according to the union. Flight attendants also said they were "frustrated with merger-related operational failures that have alienated loyal US Airways customers." On March 4, US Airways and America West were combined on to one reservations system, but the transition did not go smoothly. Self-service check-in machines at airports on the East Coast broke down, resulting in long check-in lines and delayed flights.
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Virgin America Wins Tentative DOT Approval
The Department of Transportation has tentatively approved Virgin America's application to start a new U.S. airline, finding the carrier is owned and controlled by U.S. citizens and is fit to operate as a domestic airline. The DOT order proposes that Virgin America finalize changes already offered by the company to address concerns about ownership and control of the airline, including the replacement of Fred Reid as CEO. The DOT says it was concerned about Reid because his "longstanding association with foreign investors raised concerns about who would control the new carrier."
The DOT is also requiring Virgin America to remove Virgin Group’s veto power over certain contracts and expenditures, amend the company’s loan agreements with Virgin Group, restructure its board of directors to reduce the number of foreign representatives, revise its trademark license to ensure that the U.S. carrier can operate independently of Virgin Atlantic and establish a voting trust to administer Virgin Group’s 25 percent equity interest in the airline. Virgin America has said it hopes to receive final DOT approval in time for a midsummer launch of San Francisco-New York service.
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Virgin Atlantic, ANA Expand Cooperative Services
Virgin Atlantic Airways and Tokyo-based ANA (All Nippon Airways) have agreed to expand their combined fares for round-trip travel between London and Asia to include premium economy and business class travel, in addition to previously-agreed on economy class. Virgin Atlantic and ANA will finalize an interline e-ticket agreement, allowing passengers to combine Virgin Atlantic flights and ANA flights in the same e-ticket. The cooperative agreement also includes airport and in-flight services.
Virgin and ANA first began working together in June 2003, when they linked their frequent flyer Programs, allowing ANA and Virgin Atlantic passengers to accrue and redeem mileage on each other’s network. Since September 2006, the carriers have also offered Circle Trip fares, which give greater travel options and choices to passengers traveling from the UK through common gateways in Asia. All fare types are subject to mileage accrual and redemption.
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W Hotels Plan Entry In Italian, East European Markets
Starwood Hotels & Resorts plans to open W hotels in Milan, Italy, and St. Petersburg, Russia. Scheduled to open in December 2008, the W Milan will be the first W in Italy. The 76-room hotel will be located in the heart of the Brera district, a former artists’ enclave and now one of Milan's cultural centers. The W St. Petersburg, W’s first in Eastern Europe, is scheduled to open in mid-2008. The 135-room hotel will be located in the historic center of St. Petersburg, near St. Isaac’s Square.
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Warwick Buys Melrose Hotel In Dallas
Warwick International Hotels has purchased the Melrose Hotel in Dallas and renamed it the Warwick Melrose Hotel, Dallas. Warwick International Hotels is a collection of over 40 hotels, resorts and spas in destinations around the globe, including New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Denver.
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Westin Opens In Beijing
The Westin Beijing, Financial Street has opened. The hotel, which is 40 minutes from the airport, has two 26-floor towers: one housing 486 hotel rooms and the other housing 205 one-, two- and three-bedroom residences. The property has seven restaurants and 18,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space.
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Westin Opens In Northern Virginia; Renovates San Francisco Hotel
The Westin Tysons Corner has opened in Falls Church, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C. Formerly a Doubletree, the Westin Tysons Corner has undergone a $21 million dollar renovation of all guest rooms and public areas as part of its conversion.
Similarly, the Argent Hotel in San Francisco is undergoing a transformation and will emerge in the spring as the Westin San Francisco Market Street. The renovation of the hotel will encompass all 676 guest rooms and suites, the restaurant and bar, and the lobby and entryway. It will also include the addition of a new outdoor space featuring seating for 50 people and accessible directly from Third Street with promenade access to Yerba Buena Lane. The renovation will add an additional 3,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Plans call for the hotel, including all meeting and event spaces, to remain operational throughout the redesign.
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Worldspan Renews Partnership With German Online Travel Service
SKW Flugreisen GmbH, one of Germany's leading online travel and tourism services providers, has signed a new five-year e-commerce technology services agreement with Worldspan. The companies have been partners in online travel distribution since 1995, when SKW Flugreisen launched its first travel portal for Germany's online travel buyers. The agreement expands the use of Worldspan's Internet and travel distribution solutions to further advance SKW Flugreisen's online platform, which includes a new Austrian portal, and to accommodate the company's sustained annual growth rate of between 5 percent and 10 percent.
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Worldspan Signs Mexico's Aerolineas Mesoamericanas LCC
Aerolineas Mesoamericanas (Alma de Mexico) has become the newest participating carrier in the Worldspan global distribution system (GDS). According to Worldspan, the multi-year, full content agreement makes the carrier the first of Mexico's rapidly growing low-cost carriers to participate in a global distribution system (GDS) participation.
Alma de Mexico commenced operations in June 2006 from its base in Guadalajara. It operates a fleet of 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 regional jets across a growing domestic network.
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Wyndham To Open First Hotel In China
Wyndham Hotel Group will introduce the Wyndham brand in China during the fourth quarter of this year with the opening of the Wyndham Xiamen. Wyndham will manage the newly constructed, 550-room, 26-floor luxury hotel. While the Wyndham brand is positioned in North America as an upscale product, the Wyndham Xiamen and other Wyndham hotels developed in China will be built to luxury standards, says the company. Xiamen is a coastal city northeast of Hong Kong.
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