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INDUSTRY NEWS & PEOPLE  November 2007
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Aeromexico Sold For $249M
The government of Mexico has sold Aeromexico to an investor group led by Banamex, the Mexican arm of Citigroup, for about $249 million. Banamex beat out the billionaire Saba family and Mexicana in acquiring Aeromexico. Mexico’s Federal Competition Commission would not authorize a Mexicana bid because the acquisition would hamper airline competition in Mexico.
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AgentWare Gains Access To All Air Canada Products
AgentWare, a provider of Internet search-and-book technology for travel agents, has announced that all of Air Canada’s branded fares are now available in its travel agency desktop, Trip Console. With the new version of Trip Console, travel agencies can access Air Canada’s full range of content, including Tango, Tango Plus, Latitude and Executive fares, plus Flight Passes.
Travel agents now have the ability to choose the product attributes they wish to purchase, including advance seat selection, onboard meals, Maple Leaf lounge access, checked baggage discounts, refundability and frequent-flyer miles accumulation.
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AIG Offers Insurance Against Work-interrupted Vacations
AIG Travel Guard, a global provider of travel insurance and assistance plans, has enhanced its coverage to protect travelers’ investment in a vacation if they must cancel a trip for covered work-related reasons, or if they are required to work while on vacation.
Covered reasons for cancellation include being unexpectedly required to work during a scheduled trip due to interruption of business operations by fire, flood or burglary; product recall; bankruptcy proceedings or financial insolvency; a merger or acquisition. This option can be added on to the Cruise, Tour & Travel, ProtectAssist and My Travel Guard insurance plans. The option also includes “Business Assistant” services for travelers who don’t need to cancel a trip, but may be required to work while on vacation. Services include emergency dictation and business correspondence assistance, “411” global directory assistance and wireless accessory replacement assistance.
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BA To Link Poznan, Antalya To Gatwick In Spring 2008
British Airways has announced that it will launch flights from Gatwick to Poznan, Poland, on March 30, and to Antalya, Turkey, on April 10. The airline already serves Warsaw and Krakow from Gatwick.
BA has already announced that it will start daily flights from Gatwick to Genoa from April 4.
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Choice Economy Brands Install Property Management System
Choice Hotels International has completed the deployment of its web-based property management system, ChoiceAdvantage, to all Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn hotels. The ChoiceAdvantage solution provides franchisees with revenue management, occupancy demand forecasting, group management, guest tracking and full reporting.
Choice says the system is tightly integrated with Choice’s central reservations system, helping to maximize rate and occupancy yields for Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn owners.
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Concur Opens In Prague
Concur, a provider of corporate booking and expense-reporting tools, has opened an office in Prague, Czech Republic. The office will include sales, marketing, engineering and client support staff, focusing on delivering products and services tailored to partners and customers in Europe.
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DragonAir Is 100th E-ticket Interline Partner For Continental
Continental Airlines has implemented interline e-ticket capability with DragonAir, its 100th e-ticket partner. The airline said it is nearing its target to have all interline agreements on e-tickets by the end of the year.
Interline e-tickets enable customers to fly and check baggage on Continental and other carriers on a single, paperless itinerary. In addition to completing interline e-ticket functionality with all of its alliance partners, Continental is developing other paperless solutions, including the expansion of its Customer Service Voucher program, which provides customers with electronic vouchers for hotels, meals and ground transportation when flights are canceled.
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EgyptAir To Join Star Alliance; Cairo Co-location Plans Underway
The Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance has voted to accept EgyptAir as a future member. The carrier, Egypt’s national airline, is expected to become a full Star Alliance member within the next 18 months.
In the meantime, EgyptAir and the Star Alliance member carriers that fly to Cairo are making plans to co-locate in the new Terminal 3 of Cairo International Airport once it opens in 2008. Talks to this effect are already underway with the airport authorities in order to ensure the creation of another hub with an optimal customer experience.
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El Salvador’s Grupo Taca Buys 70% Of ACE Aircraft Maintenance
ACE Aviation Holdings, parent of Air Canada, has completed the sale of a 70 percent interest in its wholly owned maintenance, repair and overhaul subsidiary, ACTS, to Grupo Taca for $723 million. Within six months, ACE may receive up to an additional $40 million in cash, conditional upon the completion of certain supplier contracts within specified terms.
ACE now holds a 23 percent equity interest in ACTS, valued at $83 million.
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Emirates Upgrading First-class
On February 1, Emirates will roll out its first-class cabin upgrade for its New York-Dubai flight. First-class suites will be larger, with extended floor space, more stowage room for hand baggage and a bigger personal wardrobe within the suite. The suite will feature fine leather upholstery and a honey walnut finish. A high-cabin ceiling without overhead bins will add to the sense of space. There will also be a new communal bar area in first class.
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Eos Plans New Paris, Stansted Flights; May Add 2 More In ‘08
Eos Airlines has announced that it will begin flights between New York’s JFK and Paris, and Newark and London Stansted Airports in 2008. Flights between Newark and Stansted will begin in the spring; those between New York and Paris, in the fall.
The airline recently received an infusion of $50 million, which is being earmarked for acquisition of two more Boeing 757s that will in turn be used, it says, “for as many as four new routes in 2008.”
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Expedia Enters Spain
Expedia® Corporate Travel (ECT) is launching service in Spain, offering localized service, content and language support on a Spanish-language web site that provides a suite of online booking and travel management tools.
Spain is ECT’s sixth European point of sale, adding to its existing European presence in France, UK, Germany, Belgium and Italy.
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FCm’s Latin America Partners Become Their Own Company
FCm Travel Solutions’ partners in Latin America and the Caribbean have taken ownership of FCm’s operating company in the region. The partners include FCm Argentina (Action Travel), FCm Brazil (Flytour Business Travel) FCm Venezuela (Molina Agencia de Viajes), FCm Caribbean (CT Travel Holdings), and FCm Mexico (Koch Overseas de Mexico).
The company will coordinate new client acquisitions, account management and coverage, sales, marketing and supplier negotiation for FCm’s Latin America region. The company is based in Mexico City and will be headed by newly-appointed regional manager, Alejandro Aguilar.
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Hertz’s Hourly Rates Hit Boston
Hertz has introduced hourly rentals, available at its Boston Park Plaza location, with no fuel charge, no application fees and no fees for canceling or changing a reservation. As with all its rentals, Hertz Hourly Rentals also include unlimited mileage and 24-hour emergency roadside assistance. Rates start as low as $12 per hour and include one-year complimentary membership in Hertz #1 Club Gold.
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HRG’s New Tool Simplifies Handling Of Cash T&E Needs
Hogg Robinson Group has launched HRG Expedite, an automated web-based tool designed to simplify the processing of cash expenses. The tool will offer many organizations “their first simple step into travel & expense (T&E) automation” towards migrating to the full HRG Expense Management Solution, says the company.
HRG Expedite can be implemented on a global basis, quickly, simply and at low cost. As a pre-configured Internet-based solution for cash expenses, it can be accessed 24 hours a day, anywhere in the world. It also will automatically trigger reimbursements.
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IATA Standardizes Bar Codes For Mobile Phone-based Check-in
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced a global standard that paves the way for global mobile phone check-in using two-dimensional (2D) bar codes. The IATA standard uses three existing codes: Aztec and Datamatrix, which are used extensively in Europe and North America; and QR which is widely used in Japan. All three are proven technologies and can be read by a single scanner type that is cost effective and readily available globally.
Mobile phone check-in enables airlines to send 2D bar codes directly to a passenger’s mobile phone, personal digital assistant or smart phone. Passengers simply register their mobile number with their airline at the time of booking to receive a text message with a 2D bar code, or instructions to download it. The bar code becomes the passenger’s boarding pass and it is read directly from the screen of the mobile device, eliminating paper completely from the check-in process.
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Jet Airways Continues Roll-out Of North America-India Routes
In late October, Jet Airways began daily service from New York’s JFK International Airport to Delhi, its third link between India and North America. On August 5, Jet Airways launched its first-ever transatlantic service with daily flights between Newark and Mumbai. On September 5, the airline launched service between Toronto and Chennai.
India-based Jet Airways has finalized an order for 20 next-generation Boeing 737-800s. The order is valued at nearly $1.5 billion. All of the planes will be equipped with blended winglets, which improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 4 percent, according to Boeing.
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JetBlue Plans Carib Destinations
JetBlue Airways will launch service this winter to St. Maarten and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. One daily nonstop, between Puerto Plata and New York’s JFK International Airport, starts January 10. The second, between St. Maarten and JFK, will begin January 17.
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KLM-Northwest Partnership Plans 2 More NA Destinations
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, in cooperation with joint venture partner Northwest Airlines, will begin daily service from Dallas-Fort Worth to Amsterdam on March 30, and between Portland, OR, and Amsterdam on March 29. The two US cities will be the 19th and 20th North American destinations for the partnership. Both routes will use Airbus A330-200 aircraft, offering 30 business-class seats and 221 economy seats.
Meanwhile, Northwest has announced closure on a $454 million secured public aircraft financing for 27 new 76-seat Embraer 175LR aircraft. This transaction and other financing commitments now give Northwest permanent financing for all its jets on order. Nine new Embraer aircraft will be in service by the end of 2007; the remainder by the end of 2008.
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Motel 6 Installing Occupancy Sensors In California Properties
Motel 6 has signed on to participate in the Honeywell Cool Control Plus program. Working on behalf of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Honeywell will install energy-saving occupancy sensors and thermostats in a total of 7,530 rooms in the 66 Motel 6 properties located within PG&E’s service area in northern and central California. The sensors turn off air conditioning and heating equipment when the rooms are vacant.
Motel 6 has already independently installed Telkonet SmartEnergy occupancy sensors and thermostats in 49 properties in California. By teaming with PG&E and Honeywell, it will bring the total number of rooms with retrofits to 13,440.
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PayPal Online Payment System Added To 2 More Airline Sites
The UK’s Fly Monarch charter service and US Airways have joined the ranks of airlines now honoring PayPal as a payment method for travelers purchasing tickets on their web sites. Northwest and Southwest airlines each announced agreements to accept PayPal transactions on their web sites this past summer.
The PayPal service allows customers to make online purchases using their choice of payment method — including through use of credit cards, bank accounts, buyer credit or PayPal account balances — without sharing financial information. US Airways levies no fees for using PayPal on its web site.
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Qdrivium’s Wireless Tool Offers On-site Control Of Car Services
Qdrivium, a software company specializing in the ground transportation industry, has launched a solution that enables clients to use a BlackBerry or Tablet PC to coordinate, manage and settle car service costs the same day of an event.
The Qdrivium Special Event solution offers corporations and event planners the ability to uphold contract pricing terms; accurately calculate fares, including flat rates, multiple stops, wait time charges, state sales taxes and fuel surcharges; quickly assign passengers to their vehicles by using a wireless handheld device; settle car service voucher charges in real-time; view passenger itineraries in real-time; request vehicles as needed to reduce wait times and no-show charges; and pre-calculate and forecast car service costs for accurate event planning and budget control.
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ReviewAnalyst Ready To Track Travelers’ Online Hotel Reviews
Standing Dog Interactive has launched ReviewAnalyst, an online dashboard for tracking consumer-generated hotel reviews, videos and images on popular travel and social networking sites. ReviewAnalyst, which costs $99 per month, has signed up more than 100 properties from Omni Hotels, Rydges Hotels & Resorts and Ocean Properties Limited.
The tracking system pulls information from sites like TripAdvisor, TravelPost, YouTube, Flickr and Google, provides reports of information posted to sites, and tracks trends through an analysis of the comments made by consumers.
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Skydini Launches Online Tool For Booking Private Charters
Skydini has unveiled a tool for booking private air charter. Skydini.com features access to a searchable database of pre-screened, FAA-certified charter jets, all available for instant booking. Skydini says the site simplifies flight selection and secures confirmation, payment and paperwork, saving hours of work for charter company schedulers and dispatchers, executive assistants, brokers, travel agents and concierge services.
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SkyTeam’s Delta, Air France Form Transatlantic Joint Venture
Air France and Delta have created a joint venture, agreeing to share revenue and costs on their transatlantic routes. The deal will encompass combined revenue of approximately $1.5 billion per year during the first phase of the operation and more than $8 billion for the second phase, say the carriers. The two airlines are members of the SkyTeam alliance.
The two airlines are careful to explain that the joint venture will not lead to the creation of a subsidiary. It will be managed by a steering committee of Air France and Delta executives who will oversee nine working groups responsible for coordinating day-to-day implementation of the agreement in the areas of network, revenue management, sales and distribution, products and services, frequent-flyer programs, operations, information technology, finance and cargo.
The joint venture has an initial term through March 31, 2016, and will renew for subsequent periods of three years.
The first phase will begin in April and include all nonstop flights operated by Air France and Delta between Paris-Charles De Gaulle, Paris-Orly and Lyon in France and Atlanta, New York’s JFK, Cincinnati and Salt Lake City in the US. The first phase will also include flights operated by both carriers between London-Heathrow and the US. By 2010, the two carriers say they intend to extend their agreement to all their transatlantic flights between Europe and North America as well as all flights between Los Angeles and Tahiti. This summer, many transatlantic flights operated by Air France and Delta between Europe and the US will be sold on a code-share basis.
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Southwest Gears Gate Makeover To Kids & Business Travelers
Southwest Airlines has unveiled its new gate design — with features especially for kids and business travelers — at San Antonio International Airport and Dallas Love Field. Gate makeovers at all airports that the airline serves are expected to be completed in the first half of 2008.
The new design includes family areas containing small-sized tables and chairs; with kid-friendly programming on flat-screen TVs; and low-to-the-ground power stations for charging electric devices. A business/leisure section has padded seats, tables with power outlets, power stations with stools, and flat-screen TVs with news programming.
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Star Begins Miami Co-location As AA Pushes For More Space
Five Star Alliance members — US Airways, United, Lufthansa, Swiss and Air Canada — are completing relocation to the new South Terminal at Miami International Airport this month as American Airlines works with the Miami-Dade Aviation Department to expedite construction that will give it more space in the new North Terminal.
The recent opening of the South Terminal will allow the closing of Concourse A and for American to operate in Concourses C, D and E. “While we understand that the closing of Concourse A will be a temporary inconvenience for passengers, it will ultimately help to speed up the construction of the North Terminal project,” says Peter Dolara, American’s senior vice president — Miami, Caribbean and Latin America. When the North Terminal project is complete, American will operate from a terminal with 50 international gates; an automated people-mover; 49 ticket-counter positions; 90 self-service check-in machines; 20 staffed, self-service, baggage check-in positions; a new baggage-handling system; and a new customs facility.
Star Alliance members’ new digs in Concourse J of the South Terminal has 50 shared ticketing and check-in counters. The new international arrivals facility can handle up to 2,000 passengers per hour. With international and domestic flights using the same concourse, passengers transferring between the five alliance member carriers will be able to make speedier connections between flights. In addition, all five member carriers will share one common Star Alliance-branded baggage services facility.
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• Insight: Off-shoring Maintenance A Problematic Fix For Airline Balance Sheets
For a variety of reasons, the collective national market share of the low cost carriers (LCCs) in the US has been growing rapidly, and along the way, the once-feared major network carriers have been painfully punished. With the LCC share leaping from 19 percent in 2000 to 33 percent today, the network carriers have been forced to restructure, cut costs and significantly reduce long-term obligations wherever they can. Since 2000, eight airlines have gone through bankruptcy.
Still, even now in 2007, many of these larger carriers have weak balance sheets and remain at a 25 percent-to-30 percent cost disadvantage vis-à-vis the LCCs. Unfortunately, in a race-to-the-bottom on costs, many carriers have increasingly implemented programs that outsource maintenance to foreign countries with uneven safety and security standards and inadequate oversight from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Outsourced maintenance includes landing gear, airframe inspections, engine rebuilds and the total overhaul of aircraft.
For the full story: http://www.askbte.com/article.asp?articleid=5667&preview=1
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ABC Adopts G2 Tool For After-hours Service
ABC Corporate Services will implement G2 SwitchWorks' G2Agent in their 24/7 Travelers Emergency Service System call center. ABC Corporate Services will utilize the format-free, multi-GDS capabilities of the G2Agent desktop to provide after-hours and emergency service to travelers of their travel agency customers.
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ABC Corporate Services Offers Private Fare Tool
ABC Corporate Services, a provider of services to corporate travel agencies, has made ABC GlobalFares available to customers. ABC GlobalFares is a booking engine that provides online access to an inventory of international private fares (net fares). Powered by eGlobalfares, the product provides agency customers with commissionable fares and the ability to add markups. It also offers full integration with agencies’ front-, mid- and back-office systems in order to meet clients’ quality control, accounting and reporting needs.
Another version of ABC GlobalFares is being offered to ABC’s Global Connect members: ABC Global ConnectFares. This option gives members of ABC Global Connect the opportunity to customize the configuration and share their own international fare content with fellow members.
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ACTE, BCD Travel To Host Executive Forum In Costa Rica
Business travel managers from across Central America will convene in Costa Rica next April for the first Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) Executive Forum to be held in that country. In partnership with BCD Travel, the event will be structured around a series of topics and issues dealing with proven travel management techniques, technological developments and advanced travel management theory. The joint forum is being conducted in response to a growing request by travel managers throughout the region for a centrally located educational event. ACTE said registration information and a complete program agenda will be posted on its web site soon.
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Aer Lingus Beefs Up US Service
Aer Lingus will suspend its Dublin-Dubai service in March and will fortify its US routes. The airline says it will move up to daily service from Dublin to San Francisco, three flights a week to Orlando and four flights a week to Washington Dulles. Aer Lingus launched San Francisco service in late October.
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Aeromexico Begins Puerto Penasco Service
Aeromexico has begun thrice-weekly service from Los Angeles to Puerto Penasco, also known as Rocky Point, in the state of Sonora. The flights are operated by Aeromexico Connect.
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AirTran Launches Mobile Check-in
AirTran Airways now enables customers to view flight status, check in for flights and select seats using their personal mobile devices and cell phones. When checking in via mobile devices, customers can obtain printed boarding passes at ByePass kiosks or AirTran ticket counters. The new service also enables customers to select the number of bags to be checked.
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AirTran To Launch Puerto Rico Service
AirTran Airways will begin daily, nonstop flights between Atlanta and San Juan, PR, on March 5. AirTran will launch daily, nonstop service between Orlando and San Juan the same day and add a second daily flight on April 9.
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Alaska Airlines Starts Seattle-Kauai Service
Alaska Airlines has inaugurated year-round service between Seattle and Lihue on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, becoming the only airline to fly the route nonstop. Alaska launched Seattle-Honolulu service on Oct. 12 and will begin Anchorage-Honolulu service on Dec. 9.
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Allied Europe Buys PRA Destination Management, Forges Int'l Network
Allied Europe has acquired PRA Destination Management, Inc., and will combine PRA's 19 franchise offices along with Allied Europe's and Allied Arabia's seven offices to form Allied International, the new parent company of these premier destination management brands, according to Laura Rednour, president of PRA Destination Management Inc.
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American Airlines Offers Voice-activated Flight Info Service
American Airlines has implemented its “Remember Me” program, in which members of the airline's frequent-flyer program can register their cell phone, call an 800-number and say “remember me” to receive updates on flights due to depart within 23 hours. Customers must register a cell phone at American's web site.
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American Airlines To Sell American Eagle Regional Subsidiary
AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines, says it plans to divest American Eagle, its wholly-owned regional carrier sometime in 2008 in order to focus on its mainline business. The divestiture is intended to provide American Eagle with "the structure, incentives and opportunities to win new business and provide new opportunities for American Eagle's employees."
Once the two airlines are separated, it is expected that they will operate under an agreement calling for American Eagle to provide American with regional flying "of a scope and quality comparable to that provided prior to the separation and on terms that reflect today's market for those services." The divestiture may include a spin-off to AMR shareholders, a sale to a third party or some other form of separation.
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American Eagle Adds Tallahassee Service
American Eagle, American Airlines’ regional affiliate, will initiate a new route to Tallahassee, FL, from Miami on March 2. American Eagle will fly the route twice-daily with Embraer 140 jets seating 44 passengers.
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American Eagle Links LaGuardia And Flint, MI
American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines, has begun nonstop service between New York's LaGuardia Airport and Bishop International Airport in Flint, MI. American Eagle operates the service with 37-seat Embraer regional jets.
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American Express Introduces Hotel Booking Tool In UK And France
American Express Business Travel has launched AX HotelHub, a hotel interface that brings together more than 120,000 hotels around the globe into a one-stop-shop, providing access to preferred rates through multi-source content. The product is available for clients in the UK and France.
AX HotelHub brings together properties from a variety of sources, including GDSs, the Internet, consolidators and direct hotel connections. It can offer a variety of rates, from rack rates to last-minute Internet offers. AX HotelHub also has an integrated reporting tool, giving travel managers insight into their hotel spending.
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American Express Partners With Clear
Clear, a provider of registered traveler security express lanes at US airports, has formed a marketing partnership with American Express. Through the partnership, holders of an American Express corporate card will receive preferred pricing on Clear's annual membership. Those who have an American Express corporate card go to flyclear.com/axpcorporate to start their enrollment process, then complete it in person at an enrollment location where their fingerprints and iris images are captured and their identification validated.
As part of the agreement, Clear will install enrollment stations in American Express Travel offices, including the one at the World Financial Center in New York's Wall Street area.
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American Launches New York-London Stansted Route
American Airlines has begun nonstop service between New York JFK and London's Stansted Airport. American made it a point to say that the flight will be the only transatlantic service between New York and Stansted to offer business and economy seats. Competitors Eos and Maxjet operate all-premium-class service on the route. In April, American will add a second daily flight, giving passengers the choice of an early or late-evening departure from New York and a morning or late-afternoon departure from Stansted.
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American Schedules Taste Test Flights Through December
American Airlines is testing new light meals, snacks and beverages its coach-class food sales program. Three sandwiches are currently being tested on afternoon flights departing Dallas/Fort Worth for Los Angeles and New York LaGuardia. Until November 18, passengers can pay $5 for a choice of roasted chicken with havarti, smoked turkey and Swiss cheese, or turkey with chutney-infused cream cheese and Monterey Jack cheese. On November 5-25, morning and afternoon flights departing from DFW for Chicago and Los Angeles, and those departing San Francisco and Los Angeles for New York JFK, will offer Starbucks doubleshot Espresso & Cream, FUZE Green Tea, Vitaminwater power-c and CLIF Bar Chocolate Brownie Energy Bars for $3 each. Premium items at $10 each will be tested December 3-23 on afternoon flights from SFO and LAX to JFK. Those tests will feature a fruit and cheese plate, an antipasto platter and a premium sandwich.
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American Signs Codeshare Deal With Jet Airways
Jet Airways intends to establish a codeshare partnership with American Airlines. Subject to regulatory approvals, Jet Airways will place its code on certain American Airlines domestic flights in and out of New York’s JFK International Airport, effective January 16. Jet Airways operates daily flights between JFK and India via its Brussels hub.
In turn, American will place its code on Jet Airways flights to certain cities in India beyond Jet Airways’ Delhi hub. American flies nonstop daily between Chicago and Delhi. In addition, American and Jet Airways will codeshare and cooperate on traffic between the US and India that connects in Brussels. The two airlines plan to expand their codeshare on other routes in the months ahead.
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AmericInn Makes Soundproofing A Standard
The AmericInn hotel chain has announced that it is focused on providing quiet rooms to guests by building properties according to strict standards with solid masonry block, thick drywall, and sound-deadening foam between every room. The economy chain said its measures “go above and beyond traditional hotel construction.
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Azores Express, SATA Launch Boston-Madeira Service
Azores Express and SATA International Airlines have begun weekly Boston-Madeira service. The new flight leaves Boston with service to Funchal, Madeira (via Ponta Delgada in the Azores) every Friday night, with a returning flight the following Friday. SATA also offers connecting service to the adjoining island of Porto Santo. The Madeira Islands are an archipelago 750 miles southwest of Lisbon, Portugal.
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Banyan Tree Partners With Private Label Company
Singapore-based Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, which plans to open 40 hotels and resorts in the next three years, has selected the Private Label Company (PLC) to be its strategic global sales and distribution partner. PLC is "dedicated to helping Banyan Tree hotels realize the full potential of its brand along with increased revenue," says Jimmy Suh, PLC's managing director. PLC will provide dedicated regional sales managers in key cities to increase Banyan Tree's visibility, brand recognition and incremental revenue.
PLC, launched at the beginning of this year, is a joint venture between the Leading Hotels of the World and Trust International.
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Barcelo Acquires Dominican Republic Resort
Playa Hotels & Resorts, an acquisition arm of the Barcelo Group, has purchased the 582-room Occidental Grand Flamenco Puerto Plata Resort in the Dominican Republic. The hotel will be renamed the Barcelo Puerto Plata Hotel and re-branded as a Barcelo Premium hotel. Playa also recently purchased the Occidental Allegro Punta Cana Resort in the DR.
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Barcelo Opens Sales Office In Shanghai
Barcelo Hotels & Resorts has opened a sales and marketing office in Shanghai to serve Asia and the Pacific Rim. The office is headed by Daniele Solari. Barcelo intends to capitalize on emerging travel markets from Asia into Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe, where Barcelo operates more than 150 hotels.
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BCD Travel Acquires Travel Agency In India
BCD Travel has expanded its operations in India through the acquisition of A.V. Tours and Travel, an independent travel management company headquartered in Hyderabad. A.V. Tours and Travel recorded $7 million in sales in 2006.
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Best Western Adds Hotel On Island Of Borneo
Best Western is extending its reach into East Malaysia with the Best Western Kinabalu Daya Hotel. The property is located in the heart of Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, a Malaysian state in the northern portion of the island of Borneo. The hotel will soon open with 107 renovated guest rooms and will add 18 more before the end of the year. The room tally is expected to reach 137 in 2008. The Best Western Kinabalu Daya is within walking distance of shopping areas, offices, banks and restaurants.
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Best Western Adds Three Hotels
Best Western has added three US hotels to its portfolio: the Best Western Belle Meade Inn in Nashville; the Best Western Bennettsville Inn in Bennettsville, SC; and the Best Western Mineola Inn in Mineola, Texas.
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BMI And United Expand Codeshare
BMI has added five US destinations to its codeshare route network under its existing agreement with Star Alliance partner United Airlines. Under the agreement, BMI can sell United's direct flights from London Heathrow to United's main US gateways -- Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington Dulles, San Francisco and Denver -- starting March 30. United's Denver-London service is new.
The BMI-United agreement is possible following the signing of an open-skies deal between the European Union and the US earlier this year.
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Boeing Authorizes Another Share Repurchase Program
The Boeing Company has approved a new repurchase plan for up to $7 billion of common stock. Boeing has bought approximately $8 billion of its stock since resuming repurchases in 2004. This new plan follows a $3 billion buyback that the company’s board approved in August 2006. Boeing said it is nearing completion of the repurchases authorized under that plan.
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BridgeStreet To Take Over Minnesota Property
BridgeStreet Worldwide, a corporate housing provider, is expanding its services to Rochester, MN, effective December 1, when it takes over management of Broadway Plaza, a high-rise apartment building. The property, located in the central business district, is within walking distance of the Mayo Clinic and connected to the city's skyway system of enclosed pedestrian walkways.
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BT Openzone Starts Selling Wi-Fi Vouchers
BT Openzone, a London-based company, has launched a Wi-Fi travel voucher program. The vouchers enable travelers to access data and make voice calls via thousands of hotspots globally. By using Wi-Fi vouchers, whose prices are fixes, says BT Openzone, travelers can download data and make voice calls more quickly and inexpensively than via international roaming. The vouchers give travelers 500 minutes for about $57.85 in the US and about $82.63 in Europe.
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Cambria Suites Makes Debut In Minnesota
A 114-suite Cambria Suites in Bloomington, MN, has opened its doors to guests. It is the fourth Cambria Suites to open nationwide and the first for the state of Minnesota. Cambria is Choice Hotels International’s new upscale brand.
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Candlewood Launches Prototype With Residential Feel
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has unveiled a new prototype design for its mid-scale, extended-stay brand, Candlewood Suites. The contemporary design creates a residential look and feel for the hotel with a new exterior design and paint scheme and an expanded lobby.
IHG says its research shows an increasing trend toward a more residential design for extended-stay properties. The brand will replace its L-shape buildings with a straight, forward-facing rectangular design, new entryway and roofline. The exterior color scheme has been updated to light khaki, olive green, tan and dark blue. A centrally-located Gazebo Grill and “backyard” landscaping will increase the residential feel, says IHG. The old lobby design — small, with only a check-in and check-out point — is being replaced by an expanded area with a 42-inch flat screen TV and comfortable furniture in multiple sitting areas.
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Carlson Adds 16 Hotels To Portfolio
Carlson Hotels Worldwide added 16 locations to its portfolio of brands from August through October. The new hotels are a Radisson SAS in Dublin; a Radisson Edwardian in London; three Radissons in the U.S.; seven Country Inn & Suites in the U.S.; and four Park Inns (two in Germany, one in Scotland and one in Vancouver).
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Carlson Hotels Revamps Frequent-guest Program
Carlson Hotels Worldwide has launched Goldpoints Plus, the company’s redone frequent-guest program. Under the new structure, guests will receive 100 percent more points per hotel stay at Regent, Radisson and Park Plaza Hotels and 50 percent more at Country Inns & Suites and Park Inn hotels, all without an increase in the redemption level for rewards.
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Carlson Wagonlit Acquires TMC In Sweden
Carlson Wagonlit Travel has agreed buy Swedish travel management company Ark Travel for about $43 million. Ark Travel has 140 employees and has offices in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo, Gavle and Sundsvall. The acquisition is expected to be completed on December 14.
The purchase follows CWT's October purchase of Polo Viaggi from Pirelli Group, one of Italy's largest industrial companies. Polo Viaggi, based in Milan, specializes in corporate and incentive travel.
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Cathay Pacific To Add A New York-Hong Kong Flight
Cathay Pacific will introduce a third daily flight between New York JFK and Hong Kong on November 15. The nonstop service, scheduled for a 9am departure, will provide passengers with morning, afternoon and evening options for travel to Hong Kong. Cathay Pacific currently operates a daily nonstop from New York to Hong Kong and a daily one-stop from New York to Hong Kong via Vancouver.
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Certain Software Adds Travel Module To Registration Tool
Certain Software is releasing a new travel module as an option to its Certain Registration application. The optional module can be activated for users who need to manage travel preferences, reservation information and related documents as part of their event planning process. Planners can configure online registration forms with standard travel question fields or their own customized fields; as well as capture travel documents, presentations, speaker abstracts and personal images for bios or badges. An introductory price of 25 cents per registration is being offered to early adopters.
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Choice Signs Franchise Deal For Extended-stay Hotels In Canada
Choice Hotels International and Winport Developments have signed a development agreement under which Winport will build at least 25 MainStay Suites and Suburban Extended Stay hotels in Canada. All of the extended-stay hotels are expected to open by September 30, 2010.
The companies have executed the first five franchise contracts under the agreement, with hotels under development in Ontario, Alberta and Atlantic Canada.
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CIBT Acquires Visa Processor In the UK
Passport and visa processor CIBT has acquired Thames Consular Service, the third-largest visa service in the UK. CIBT says the acquisition of Thames makes it the largest visa company in the UK and Europe. Previously, CIBT had acquired The Visa Service and Gold Arrow, which are also in the UK.
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CIBT Offers To Replace Passports Free For Fire Victims
CIBT, a passport and visa expediter, is offering free US passport replacement in less than 10 business days to travelers affected by the recent California fires. Fees for expediting passports will be waived, but applicable US Passport Agency fees, return shipping and visa stamps are not included. The offer will be honored through the end of 2007. Travelers need to write “California Fire” on their submission sheet to qualify.”
CIBT’s offer is being made through subsidiaries American Passport Express and Passport Express.
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Clear Adds Enrollment Stations In Washington
Clear, a provider of an airport registered traveler program, is increasing its enrollment capacity in the Washington, DC, area, with new stations in the Congressional Federal Credit Union of the Longworth House Office Building and at the Senate Federal Credit Union branch at the Government Accountability Office. In January, two more enrollment stations will open: at the Pentagon in cooperation with the Pentagon Federal Credit Union, and at an American Express Travel Service office in downtown Washington.
This past summer, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, on behalf of Reagan National and Washington Dulles airports, requested proposals from service providers, including Clear, that operate express lanes at security checkpoints. The authority is now in the process of choosing the entity that will run the programs there. No matter which service provider is selected to run the program, express lanes will accept membership cards from all registered traveler vendors.
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Clear To Operate Fast Security Lanes In Denver
The Clear registered-traveler program has won a contract to operate express security lanes at Denver International Airport. The lanes are scheduled to open this winter. Clear says it has signed up hundreds of Denver-area residents and has established a strategic partnership with one of the city's largest travel management companies, Carlson Wagonlit Travel.
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Commonwealth Selects FleetBook For Affiliate Program Management
Commonwealth Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation, a limousine service provider in Boston and New York, has adopted the FleetBook system to manage affiliate reservations. FleetBook acts as a central switch, enabling limousine companies to select reservations they wish to farm out to an affiliate; automatically enter the data into the affiliate's system, and return confirmation numbers and any status updates. Modifications and cancellations are handled similarly. Previously, managing farm-out ride data among its affiliates and the home office was a daunting task, says Commonwealth.
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Concur Integrates Booking And Expense Tools
Concur has announced the availability of Concur Travel & Expense, which automates trip booking, expense report completion, auditing and reimbursement. All of this is delivered in one on-demand service, says Concur, reducing the number of steps, clicks and paper involved with booking travel and creating expense reports.
An innovation called Smart Expense gathers and matches all components of a business trip and automatically creates the expense report with little or no human intervention, says Concur. With Smart Expense, travel itinerary details, corporate credit card data and e-receipt data from participating travel suppliers are automatically captured, reconciled and added into the user's expense report, ensuring that expenses are within policy.
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Continental To Fly Heathrow Routes From Newark And Houston
Continental Airlines will launch twice-daily, nonstop flights to London Heathrow from both its Newark and Houston hubs on March 29, subject to government approval and slot approval. Continental will continue to offer nonstop flights to London Gatwick from Newark (twice daily), Houston (daily) and Cleveland (daily, seasonal).
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Continental Updates First Class Meals Over The Americas
Continental Airlines has introduced new first-class menus combining healthy eating and comfort food on flights throughout the United States, Canada and to select Latin American and Caribbean destinations. The new meals were created by Continental's Congress of Chefs based on extensive feedback from customers and employees. The airline will continue to serve complimentary meals in coach class.
The airline says improved efficiencies throughout the system allow it to focus spending on the food rather than equipment. For example, a small side bowl to serve seasonal fruit on a breakfast flight is also used to serve a fresh side salad on a dinner flight, effectively returning the dishware back to its originating kitchen.
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Corporate Travel Management Group Implements Sabre Security Tool
Corporate Travel Management Group (CTMG), a corporate travel agency based in Lombard, IL, has released the Sabre Traveler Security and Data Suite, which enables clients to quickly find their traveler's whereabouts. The product allows users to search up-to-date reservations data online and is available 24/7 via a secure link provided by CTMG.
Users can drill down from a world map to find travelers or use specific criteria to target the search. The detailed report includes traveler contact information, alternate emergency contact information and complete reservation data.
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Courtyard By Marriott Planned For Basel
Marriott International will add a 174-room Courtyard by Marriott property in Basel, Switzerland, under a recently concluded franchise agreement with a subsidiary of the SV Group, owner of the Courtyard by Marriott Zurich North. When the Courtyard by Marriott Basel opens in 2010, the Marriott portfolio in Switzerland will consist of four hotels.
The Courtyard by Marriott Basel will be part of a mixed-use development located about four miles from Basel’s city center.
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Courtyard Opens In Fort Lauderdale Beach
The Courtyard by Marriott in Fort Lauderdale Beach has opened. The 261-room property is on the site of what was the Oceanfront Hotel. The Courtyard offers high-speed Internet throughout; the Blue Water Restaurant & Bar, a full-service restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; an outdoor, heated swimming pool overlooking the Atlantic; and the Seabreeze Poolside Bar. Nearly 1,400 square feet of meeting space can accommodate groups of up to 70.
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Crowne Plaza Opens New Hotels In Florida And New Jersey
The Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach Resort has opened its doors. The 10-story, 311-room hotel is a redevelopment of the former Ambassador Hotel. The property has 10,000 square feet of meeting space.
The Crowne Plaza Somerset-Bridgewater, in Somerset, N.J., has opened. It was converted from a Marriott. The 439-room hotel is situated adjacent to the Garden State Exhibit Center and surrounded by several companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Medpoint, GE Healthcare, BoiVail, Cardinal Health and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Medical Center. In the second-quarter of 2008, a Crowne Plaza will open in Edison, NJ, following a multi-million dollar renovation of the former Clarion Hotel & Towers Edison. Situated in central New Jersey, the 169-room hotel is 15 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport and in close proximity to Rutgers University and the Raritan Convention Center.
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Crowne Plaza Putting More Comfortable Chairs In Meeting Rooms
By the end of 2007, all Crowne Plazas will have Herman Miller Caper chairs in break-out rooms. The hotel chain said these chairs will offer meeting attendees greater comfort with an ergonomic back, flex-net mesh seat and casters for mobility. For banquet-style seating Crowne Plaza will begin outfitting its larger rooms with a flex-back, banquet-style chair with a contoured seat and flexible back.
Crowne Plaza says 60 percent of professionals it surveyed said that a more comfortable ergonomic chair would help them focus during meetings. Among frequent business travelers, 53 percent complained that meeting room chairs lacked proper support for their backs or necks, and 48 percent responded that seating is the one aspect they wish could be upgraded at offsite meeting locations.
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Crowne Plaza Reports 51 Percent Growth In The Americas
Since the beginning of 2007, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts says, it has signed 24 agreements in the Americas, growing the brand's Americas pipeline by 51 percent and increasing its room count by 10 percent. Crowne Plaza has 169 hotels open in the Americas region with another 34 hotels in the pipeline.
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Crowne Plaza To Open In Tampa In 2009
InterContinental Hotels Group has signed a 10-year agreement with MHI Hospitality Corp., to manage the Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore. The Tampa property, the former Clarion Hotel, will undergo renovations and open in the first quarter of 2009.
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Davidson To Manage Hilton Pompano Beach
Davidson Hotel Company has signed a management agreement to operate the 256-room Hilton Pompano Beach Resort. A 1950s-era Ramada Inn currently occupying the site will be demolished. Davidson has also executed a technical services agreement to provide pre-construction and design services, including assisting and advising owners with the selection of all furniture, operating equipment, supplies and IT systems. The three-phase, six-acre project comprises two new-build properties, including the Hilton and a second, currently unnamed 317-room hotel with an accompanying marina. The project is expected to be completed by 2010.
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Delta Fined For Failing To Provide Customers With On-Time Data
The US Department of Transportation has assessed a civil penalty against Delta for failing to provide information on the on-time arrival performance of its flights when asked by consumers. Delta was fined $115,000. The DOT’s action follows similar actions on October 3 against Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue Airways. Hawaiian was fined $50,000, and JetBlue was fined $30,000 for failing to provide on-time info to customers.
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Detroit Metro's New Terminal Will Feature 30 Shops And Restaurants
The Wayne County Airport Authority has approved contracts to add more than 30 shops and restaurants at Detroit Metro Airport’s new North Terminal, which is scheduled to open in fall 2008. When complete, the terminal's concession program will add approximately 50,000 square feet of new concession space to DTW, including 14 gift/news and specialty retail stores and 15 food-and-beverage facilities, including two food courts.
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DFW Launches Marketing Campaign In South America
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and the DFW Convention and Visitors Bureau have kicked off a marketing campaign in Argentina and Chile to promote the airport and the region. The effort is part of the Visit DFW promotion, a $5 million campaign that was launched in June 2007 to promote more international travel to DFW.
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Doubletree Brand To Replace Melia Cariari In Costa Rica
Hilton Hotels Corp. has signed a multiyear agreement to manage the former Melia Cariari & Conference Center in San Jose, Costa Rica. The 222-room hotel will be renamed the Doubletree Cariari and is expected to open in January following renovations to guestrooms, public areas, restaurants and meeting facilities.
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Dragonair Becomes Oneworld Affiliate
Dragonair, a domestic carrier in mainland China, is now an affiliate member of the Oneworld alliance. This means the airline's frequent flyers can earn and redeem mileage awards on all other Oneworld carriers. Top-tier frequent-flyers have access to airport lounges worldwide offered by the alliance's airlines. Dragonair's network is now covered by Oneworld's range of alliance fares.
Dragonair is owned by Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific, which is also a Oneworld member.
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E-Travel Technologies Unveils New Method For Presenting Travel Alerts
E-Travel Technologies has added a new presentation format for its e-Travel Alerts service. The new format utilizes an interactive map for subscribers to drill down to a list of alerts by region and by country. Concurrently, a scrolling marquee of the 10 most recently posted alerts is included, as well as lists of alerts by country for the past seven days and access to a database of alerts by country for the past six months.
These are all available in English, Spanish and French. In addition, country-level travel risk assessments have been added to travel alerts databases and are included in the new display of alerts.
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EasyJet Signs Up With Amadeus And Galileo As Ryanair Jeers
EasyJet has struck distribution deals with Amadeus and Galileo, a move that will enable corporate travel agencies to view and book EasyJet flights within their preferred GDS environment. This is the first time a major European, low-cost airline has made its inventory available to GDSs.
Competitor Ryanair ridiculed the move: “Easyjet has always been a closet high-fares airline, and we are delighted to see that they are coming out. At least today, Easyjet is a high-fares airline and proud! ... Easyjet's costs were already nearly 60 percent higher than Ryanair's. Then they bought the high-fare GB Airways, which has an average seat cost of 132 pounds, and today they have signed a deal with travel agents, the costliest parasites in the travel industry, both of which will increase the already large gap between Easyjet's high fares and Ryanair's low fares. All Easyjet has left is to start levying fuel surcharges and move to Heathrow.
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Elite Payment Systems To Offer Productivity MasterCard From GE Money
Elite Payment Systems, an independent sales organization providing tailored payment-processing solutions to businesses, will offer commercial credit cards to their customers through a relationship with GE Money - Corporate Payment Services. Under the agreement, Elite will provide a co-branded version of the CPS Productivity MasterCard to middle-market and small-business customers both directly and through its network of bank associations.
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Emirates Equips In-flight Movies With Closed Captioning, Subtitles
Emirates Airline has introduced movie subtitling and closed caption technology to its in-flight entertainment system. The technology gives Emirates travelers the option to turn on closed captioning or subtitles in various languages for selected films. The system offers the ability to embed captions in up to 12 languages.
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Emirates Invests $600M For In-flight Comfort, Entertainment
Emirates Airline is investing $600 million in in-flight products and services. Contracts for updated interior products and next-generation entertainment and communication systems are applicable to the airline’s new aircraft purchases as well as retrofits to its existing fleet.
In a deal worth US$ 120 million, Emirates has selected B/E Aerospace to retrofit its existing B777-300ER and A340-500 fleet and equip its new B777 aircraft with the airline’s first-class private suites and lie-flat business-class seats. In addition, the contract includes the installation of first-class private suites for the airline’s new A380 super-jumbo jets. Emirates has also inked a $500 million deal with Panasonic Avionics Corp. for the eX2 in-flight digital entertainment system, which includes interactive audio, video, games, communication and connectivity support for the airline’s existing fleet and new aircraft purchases.
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Emirates Rolls Out 7-seat Limo Service For Passengers In Dubai
Emirates' Chauffeur-Drive Service to and from Dubai International Airport has introduced spacious Mercedes-Benz Viano cars for large families and groups. The airline is making family and group travel more convenient by launching a new range of larger limousines that can accommodate up to seven first- and business-class passengers, eliminating the need for large groups to be separated in two vehicles.
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Enterprise Unveils Offset Program For Three Car Rental Brands
Enterprise, which purchased National and Alamo earlier this year, has introduced a carbon-offset program covering all three car rental brands. By opting in during the reservations process to pay $1.25 per rental, customers can fund certified offset projects that work to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Customer offset purchases will be matched by Enterprise dollar for dollar, up to $1 million.
Beginning in January, the program will be offered at locations in the US and Canada; it will be extended to Europe locations in mid-2008. TerraPass, the company administering the carbon-offset program for Enterprise, is headed by Erik Blachford, former Expedia CEO.
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Expedia CT Partnering With eLong To Enter China Market
Expedia Corporate Travel (ECT) plans to launch service in China through a strategic partnership with eLong Inc., giving companies doing business in China access to fully localized service, global reporting capabilities and an in-country call center staffed with agents who speak both Mandarin and English. It is ECT's first foray into China. "Many of our existing customers and prospects already do business in China," says Jean-Pierre Remy, president of Expedia Corporate Travel, "so we have a clear opportunity to better service the needs of these clients by being where they need us to be."
eLong is the second largest online travel company in China, and has built one of the broadest travel service distribution networks in the country, using web-based distribution technologies and a centralized nationwide call center. The partnership will provide ECT's customers with access to more than 4,700 hotels in more than 330 cities across China, as well as flight options to more than 70 major cities in the country.
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ExpertFlyer Partners With TripSync
ExpertFlyer.com, an air travel information tool, has formed a strategic partnership with TripSync, a free travel tool that enables business travelers to book, change and manage travel itineraries directly from their online calendars. The partnership gives ExpertFlyer subscribers the ability to search and book itineraries that have a mix of classes and cabins as well as trips that have non-traditional routings.
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ExpertFlyer.com Goes Mobile
ExpertFlyer.com, an air travel information tool, is now enabling subscribers to access information about flights, seat maps and upgrades directly from their cell phones.
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Fairmont Zanzibar Opens
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of the Fairmont Zanzibar, located off the coast of Tanzania. The 109-room resort has two swimming pools, fitness and spa facilities and several restaurants and bars overlooking the Indian Ocean. The Fairmont Zanzibar also offers business amenities, including wireless Internet, a business center and meeting and banquet facilities.
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FIU Seeks Dean For Hospitality School
Florida International University is inviting nominations and applications for the dean of its School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. The dean will lead a faculty in the disciplines of hospitality and tourism in Miami and Tianjin, China. The school has maintained a consistent ranking as one of the top hospitality management schools in the US.
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Flight Centre Acquires Liberty Travel For $135 Million
Flight Centre Limited, the Australian parent of FCm Travel Solutions, has agreed to acquire Liberty Travel for $135 million. The acquisition includes Gogo Worldwide Vacations, a Liberty-owned tour operator. Liberty Travel is the second-largest brick-and-mortar leisure agency in the U.S., after AAA. Flight Centre plans to add 193 Liberty Travel shops along the East Coast, in Florida and in Chicago, plus 40 Gogo locations in 22 states. The acquisition is Flight Centre's largest to date and is expected to be completed in January 2008.
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Four Points To Make Malaysia Debut
Starwood will open its first Four Points by Sheraton in Malaysia, the Four Points by Sheraton Kuching, Sarawak. The 300-room hotel is scheduled to open in early 2009. The property will have three restaurants, a lounge, a pool bar and 17,000 square feet of meeting space. Kuching, the capital of the East Malaysia state of Sarawak, overlooks the South China Sea and is the fourth-largest city in Malaysia.
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Foxwoods Plans $55 Million Renovation
Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., has announced a $55 million renovation. The project will bring two dining establishments by celebrity chef David Burke, who is best known for his New York restaurant, David Burke & Donatella. David Burke Prime will be a high-end steakhouse, and Burke in the Box will offer gourmet sandwiches and salads to go or to eat in. The latter is modeled after the flagship Burke in the Box in Manhattan. Also, a luxury retail corridor and a 6,600-square-foot lounge will open when the project is completed in the spring.
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Frontier Inaugurates Denver-Palm Beach Service
Frontier Airlines has launched nonstop service between its Denver hub and Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, FL. The new daily flight is the only nonstop service between Palm Beach and Denver, says Frontier.
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Galileo Agents Begin Getting Access To Southwest Flights
The implementation of Southwest Airlines’ published fares and inventory has been completed for all Galileo-connected travel agencies in the US and Canada that have signed up for access. Next year, Southwest will become available in Worldspan. Both Galileo and Worldspan are owned by Travelport.
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Golden Tulip Opens First Hotel In India
Golden Tulip has opened its first hotel in India, the Golden Tulip Jaipur. The hotel is located in the heart of Jaipur, in the close proximity to business, commercial and shopping areas. The Golden Tulip Jaipur has 108 rooms, a business center suitable for meetings and conferences, a bar and a restaurant. The Golden Tulip Jaipur is the first of six Golden Tulips to be opened in India over the next 12 months.
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Grant Thornton Survey: 70% Of Execs See Environmental Regulations Ahead
A national survey of senior executives by accounting firm Grant Thornton LLP, finds strong support for environmental regulation of companies, and moderate support for regulation on social issues. Nearly three-quarters of executives (72 percent) believe that the government should regulate companies for their impact on the environment. Seventy percent of executives surveyed said they expect increased regulation of companies for environmental responsibility within the next five years.
In contrast, 56 percent believe that the government should regulate companies for their effect on human rights and labor practices. Only one-third (35 percent) believe that the government should regulate companies for their impact on the communities in which they operate. About a quarter of respondents expect more regulation for economic (26 percent) and social (28 percent) issues.
Thirty-five percent of respondents expect reporting requirements for social responsibility actions will be likely in the near future. Only 29 percent currently produce some kind of corporate responsibility report; 55 percent say they have no plans to produce one, despite their expectation that such reports will ultimately be required.
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Grupo Posadas To Open Caesar Park Hotel In Buenos Aires
Grupo Posadas plans to open the Caesar Park Silver Buenos Aires - Obelisk in January, following a detailed redesign and restoration. The hotel occupies a classical building of the 1920s. Located on Nueve de Julio Avenue in the cultural and financial district, the property faces the Obelisk of Buenos Aires, the country's most widely recognized landmark.
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Harrah's Proposes Kansas Resort Casino
Harrah's Entertainment and Sumner Gaming and Resorts have unveiled their proposal for a destination resort to be located in Sumner County, Kansas. The proposal was submitted to the Sumner County Commission and the Kansas State Lottery for consideration. The proposed site is approximately 500 acres and is located off of I-35 at Highway 53 in an unincorporated area of Belle Plaine Township.
The Harrah's Kansas plan calls for 275 guest rooms; a variety of restaurants, including one helmed by TV personality and restaurateur Paula Deen; a Toby Keith-branded bar and grill; a 1,600 seat amphitheater for outdoor concerts; a golf course; and a 30,000-square-foot conference facility.
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Hawaiian Airlines Plans Fleet Renewal
Hawaiian Airlines has struck agreements with Airbus and engine maker Rolls-Royce to acquire up to 24 long-range, wide-body aircraft as the first step in a phased fleet plan that will replace its current wide-body fleet of 18 aircraft and enable Hawaiian to launch new nonstop routes to more distant markets.
Hawaiian has signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire six A330-200 aircraft and six A350XWB-800 aircraft, with purchase rights for an additional six A330-200s and six A350XWB-800s.The agreement has a total list-price value of approximately $4.4 billion if all of the purchase rights are exercised.
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Hilton Anticipates Strong Growth In Africa And The Middle East
Hilton Hotels anticipates doubling its portfolio in the Middle East and Africa over the next five years. Hilton, which currently has 43 hotels in the region, has 15 openings scheduled over the next three years. Next year, Hilton is scheduled to have five hotel openings in the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. It also will open its first hotels in Qatar, Lebanon and Equatorial Guinea in 2008.
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Hilton Garden Inn Begins Using Eco-friendly Coffee Cups
Hilton Garden Inn has introduced its Ecotainer, a coffee cup that is coated with a corn-based plastic that generates less greenhouse gas during manufacturing. The corn-based coating also allows the cups to be composted rather than landfilled. Developed by International Paper, the cup is the only available all-natural, paper cup for hot beverages, says Hilton.
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Hilton Garden Inn Opens In Manhattan
Hilton Garden Inn has announced the opening of the 169-room Hilton Garden Inn New York/Chelsea in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood. A 23-story structure, the Hilton Garden Inn New York/Chelsea features rooms with complimentary wired and wireless Internet access, remote printing to the hotel’s business center, oversized work desks, adjustable lighting, electrical outlets at desk height and two telephones equipped with data ports and voice mail.
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Hilton Garden Inn To Open In Perm, Russia
Through a franchise agreement with Hotels of Ural, Hilton will convert the Plaza Olympia Hotel in Perm, Russia, to the Hilton Garden Inn Perm. The 104-room hotel is scheduled to open in late 2008. Over the next 10 years, Hilton anticipates it will open more than 70 hotels in the Hilton family of brands across Russia, not only focusing on Moscow and St. Petersburg, but also actively looking at opportunities in key regional cities. Located in the Ural region, 621 miles from Moscow, Perm has a population of over 1 million and is considered to be an important industrial center, says Hilton.
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Hilton Resort To Open On Bonaire
Hilton Hotels has entered into a franchise license agreement to build the Hilton Bonaire Resort and Spa, an upscale resort on the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire. The Hilton Bonaire Resort and Spa will be built on a canal system in southern Kralendijk, Bonaire's capital city located just north of Flamingo International Airport. The 144-room resort is expected to open in July 2010.
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Homewood Suites Launches E-tour On Web Site
Homewood Suites by Hilton has introduced a web-based sales tool that enables guests to take a “guided” virtual tour. Homewood Suites, an extended-stay brand, used Advanced Method's eVideo Flash technology to design a Homewood Suites eTour for HomewoodSuites.com. The tour features a brand representative guiding the viewer through in-depth reviews of available amenities and suites as well as business and leisure facilities.
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Hyatt Opens First Andaz Outside The US
The Andaz Liverpool Street in London, formerly the Great Eastern Hotel, has opened. The property is the first to open globally under the new luxury Andaz brand operated by Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. Hyatt describes Andaz as a “five-star offering with a boutique, design-driven product.
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Hyatt Place Opens First Massachusetts Hotel
The Hyatt Place Boston/Medford, minutes from downtown Boston, has opened. The hotel, Hyatt Place's first in Massachusetts, features 157 guest rooms and public areas. The hotel offers guests a complimentary shuttle service within a four-mile radius to Tufts University and Davis Square, in addition to nearby shopping centers, restaurants and office buildings.
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IFC's 2008 Fare-construction Training Extended To Prague
IFC Specialists has finalized its 2008 International Fare Construction training schedule. Phase 1 sessions will be held January 28-29 in Portland, Ore.; March 31 to April 1 in Houston; May 26-27 in Toronto; July 14-15 in Tampa; September 15-16 in Chicago and October 13-14 in Prague, Czech Republic. The cost is $345.
Phase 2 sessions will be held January 30 to February 1 in Portland; April 2-4 in Houston; May 28-30 in Toronto; July 16-18 in Tampa; September 17-19 in Chicago; and October 15-17 in Prague. The cost is $492; the cost for both phases taken consecutively is $753.
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IHG ANA Begins Rebranding Hotels In Japan To Crowne Plaza
IHG ANA Hotels Group, a hotel joint venture between InterContinental Hotels Group and All Nippon Airways, will rebrand six ANA hotels to ANA Crowne Plaza hotels in Japan. ANA hotels in the Japanese cities of Chitose, Toyama, Kanazawa, Hiroshima, Naha and Narita will be rebranded by December 17. Two more ANA hotels will be co-branded and join the ANA Crowne Plaza network next year.
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IHG ANA To Brand Hotel In Kobe
Forest Vestures Holdings Japan and Newport Creek Hospitality plan to develop a hotel in the heart of Kobe's Harborland in Kobe, Japan. The companies are in discussions with IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan to brand the hotel. IHG ANA Hotels Group is a joint venture between InterContinental Hotels Group and ANA Hotels. IHG ANA will have opened six ANA Crowne Plaza hotels by the end of 2007.
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IHG Hotel Listings Back On Expedia
After a three-year absence, InterContinental Hotels Group properties will be back on Expedia and Hotels.com. The new multi-year agreement will make more than 3,700 hotels across all IHG brands — including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites — available on Expedia Corporate Travel by December. They will appear on Expedia.com and on Hotels.com in 2008.
IHG is participating as the launch partner for Expedia’s new media-based pricing model, which blends transaction pricing with media pricing based on clicks on specific IHG properties in Expedia.com and Hotels.com search results. Expedia and IHG say this approach to distribution marketing is a first in online travel.
IHG pulled its inventory off Expedia and Hotels.com in 2004 because the hotel company said that Expedia was not adhering to its Internet standards for distribution.
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Infor's T&E Tool V7.0 Includes Mobile Link, Personalization Options
Infor has made available Infor Expense Management 7.0, the latest version of its travel and expense management solution. The tool includes enhancements that reduce administrative costs, decrease errors and minimize occurrences of fraud.
New capabilities include expanded options for mobile approval, which enables managers to quickly sign off on employees’ expense reports through their mobile devices; a new portal user interface with enhanced personalization options; additional business rules and background processes to help companies enforce travel policy compliance’ web-based HTML timesheets; and new configuration options.
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InterContinental Hotel In Development In Nigeria
Construction has begun on the InterContinental Lagos, InterContinental Hotels Group's first property in Nigeria. The development, which is centrally located on Victoria Island, will cater to an increasing number of business travelers arriving in Nigeria. The InterContinental Lagos will feature 230 standard rooms, 87 club rooms, 31 bay suites, one junior suite and one presidential suite. Food and beverage options will include an all-day dining restaurant, a 116-seat lobby bar, two specialty restaurants and a garden cafe.
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InterContinental Resort To Open On Mauritius
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement with Lateral Holdings to develop a $50 million luxury resort on the island of Mauritius. Scheduled to open in late 2008, the 210-room InterContinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort, will be a 20 minute-drive north of the country's capital, Port Louis. The development is InterContinental's first resort in the African region and is part of InterContinental Hotels Group's aggressive growth plan that will almost double its Middle East and Africa portfolio over the next three years. Situated on the rooftop, the resort's spa and health club will offer panoramic views across the Indian Ocean. For corporate events, the property will feature what InterContinental is calling the largest banqueting and conference hall in a hotel in Mauritius, accommodating up to 1,000 people.
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Interstate Takes Over Management Of Nine Hotels
Interstate Hotels & Resorts has signed management agreements with affiliates of Inland American Lodging Corp. for nine hotels recently acquired by Inland American. Four of the nine properties are Courtyard by Marriott hotels in Texas; four are Residence Inn by Marriott hotels in Texas; and one is a Residence Inn in Arizona.
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IRS Sets Per-Mile Business Driving Rate
The Internal Revenue Service has announced that the national per-mile business driving rate will be 50.5 cents for the US taxpayer, effective January 1, 2008. The 2007 rate is 48.5 cents. The 50.5 cents per mile is the amount taxpayers can deduct for vehicle expenses on 2008 tax returns for business miles driven.
To establish the annual per-mile rate, the IRS works closely with Runzheimer International, a management consulting firm specializing in vehicle, travel and living costs. "The increase in the 2008 national per-mile rate reflects a combination of factors, including higher fuel prices, rising insurance costs and higher depreciation costs," says Ted Schuerman, Runzheimer's director of research and client service within government services.
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Jet Aviation Sells Airline & Cargo Handling Unit To Dubai-based Dnata
The Jet Aviation Group has announced the completion of the sale of Swiss-based Jet Aviation Handling, its airline and cargo handling division, to Dnata Airport Services. Jet Aviation says its strategy is to focus primarily on business and private aviation as its core business. Its FBO operations in Geneva and Zurich, responsible for the handling of business and private aviation, are not part of the deal.
Dnata Airport Services was established in 1959 and is the ground and passenger handling agent at Dubai International Airport and sole operator of the Dubai air cargo terminal. It is the largest supplier of air travel services in the Middle East
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Jet Aviation To Provide Maintenance Services At Moscow Airport
Jet Aviation has signed an agreement that will enable it to provide maintenance services at Moscow Vnukovo International Airport in the coming weeks. Vnukovo is Moscow's busiest airport for corporate aviation and handles nearly 70 percent of all business aviation traffic in Russia.
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JetBlue Signs Distribution Pacts With Orbitz And Priceline
JetBlue has established separate distribution agreements with Orbitz Worldwide and Priceline.com. Orbitz Worldwide's deal enables Orbitz, Orbitz for Business and CheapTickets to distribute JetBlue fares. Fares will be made fully available for air-only retail bookings and air-hotel travel packages. JetBlue already has distribution deals with Travelocity and Expedia.
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John Q. Hammons Opens Renaissance In Arizona
John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts has opened the Marriott Renaissance Glendale Hotel & Spa in Glendale, AZ. The Renaissance and attached conference center and media center offer more than 100,000 square feet of combined meeting space. The 320-room hotel is owned by John Q. Hammons, and the hotel, conference center and media center are managed by John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts.
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Joie de Vivre Invites Public To Rename Hotel
Boutique hotel operator Joie de Vivre Hospitality has launched a national contest to rename one of its new properties, the Coast Santa Cruz Hotel. The contest invites US residents to submit their ideas at Joie de Vivre’s web site before December 15, after which the suggested names will be considered and a new name will be chosen by January 31. If the new name was suggested by a contest entrant, the winner will be recognized at the hotel’s grand opening and receive a weekend stay in a suite at the hotel, complimentary breakfast and dinner for four.
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JW Marriott Opens In Beijing
Marriott International has opened the 588-room JW Marriott Hotel Beijing. The luxury, 23-story hotel was designated as Marriott's 3,000th property. The JW Marriott Hotel Beijing is located in the heart of the city, just east of Beijing's growing central business district. The hotel is adjacent to the soon-to-open 305-room Ritz-Carlton, Beijing. The two hotels anchor Beijing's newest luxury address, China Central Place. The complex has high-end office space, eight residential towers, retail shops, spacious green areas and a sports center.
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KDS Builds Support System For Clients' Change Management
KDS, a provider of online travel and expense solutions for corporations in Europe, has partnered with Assima, an e-learning software company. Assima will provide KDS customers with e-learning solutions and change management services to support their adoption of KDS solutions. KDS will also provide full change management support, including the coaching of change leaders, development of internal communication tools and management of communication and training campaigns.
Assima's role includes the development of a training environment to match KDS's client environment. The Assima portal will provide users with a structured means for following up on training, including personalized progress monitoring.
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La Jolla Shores Makes GPS Units Available Free To Guests
The La Jolla Shores Hotel, formerly the Sea Lodge Hotel, in La Jolla, CA, is offering guests Garmin global positioning system (GPS) units during their stay to better navigate their way to a variety of attractions in the San Diego area. The units will be available free of charge to registered hotel guests during the course of their stay through the hotel concierge, based on availability. For use in the car or walking excursions, the handheld unit gives turn-by-turn directions, announcing the name of streets as travelers drive.
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Lan Airlines To Add 32 Boeing 787 Dreamliners To Fleet
Chile’s Lan Airlines will receive 32 787 Dreamliners, marking the largest 787 acquisition to date for a Latin America carrier. Lan has ordered 26 airplanes from Boeing and will lease an additional six. The order for 26 Dreamliners is worth approximately $4.5 billion at published list prices.
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LAN Revamps Web Site
LAN Airlines has renewed LAN.com. The airline, which serves South America destinations from Miami and New York, says it is easier to navigate the airline's services and promotions on the site, which has a 'cleaner' look and feel. Members of the airline's frequent-flyer program can consult the status of their account, redeem benefit awards, find additional ways to earn points and read tips on how to make the best use of their points.
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Mesa Executives Get Contract Extensions
Mesa Air Group, a regional jet operator, has extended the terms of employment agreements for CEO Jonathan Ornstein; president and COO Michael Lotz; and executive vice president and general counsel Brian Gillman. Each received a three-year extension. Dan Altobello, the lead director of the company’s board, said, “Ten years ago, when I joined the board and Jonathan Ornstein and Mike Lotz joined Mesa, the company had revenue of $423 million and had lost $54 million in the previous fiscal year. Since that time we have grown to over $1.4 billion in revenue, and since 9/11 earned operating profits on a pro-forma basis in 26 of 27 quarters.
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Mesa Ordered To Pay $80M In Damages To Hawaiian Airlines
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Hawaii ruled in favor of Hawaiian Airlines in its lawsuit against Mesa Air Group, awarding Hawaiian $80 million in damages and ordering Mesa to pay Hawaiian’s costs of litigation. Mesa was found guilty of launching its Hawaii inter-island carrier, Go!, based on confidential information it obtained about Hawaiian when it was a potential investor in the then-bankrupt carrier. Mesa is appealing the ruling.
The court did reject Hawaiian’s bid to prohibit Go! from selling tickets, but the future of the carrier is a concern of Mesa pilots. “The actions of Mesa Air Group’s senior management have put the future of Mesa Air Group and the livelihoods of their hard-working employees in jeopardy,” says Michael Jayson, chairman of the Mesa unit of the Air Lines Pilots Association. “The financial impact of the Hawaiian Airlines decision, if it is not overturned on appeal, will likely be felt for years to come.
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Mexicana Adopts Amadeus Technology To Drive Online Sales
Amadeus and Mexicana de Aviación have signed a preliminary agreement that paves the way for a long-term technology partnership between the two companies. Through the agreement and subject to final negotiation, the airline will adopt Amadeus's full Altea Customer Management Solution to manage its reservations, inventory and departure control as well as e-commerce technology to drive sales through the airline's web site. Next-generation technology will support Mexicana's IT modernization program.
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MGM Mirage In Deal To Develop Hotel In Abu Dhabi
MGM Mirage and the Mubadala Development Co., an investment and development firm wholly-owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, plans to build the MGM Grand Abu Dhabi, a mixed-use development. The MGM Grand Abu Dhabi will be located at a prominent, downtown waterfront site on Abu Dhabi Island. The $3 billion development is anticipated to open in 2012.
An initial phase will utilize 50 acres and consist of an MGM Grand hotel and two additional MGM-branded luxury hotels. In total, more than 1,200 rooms will be developed in the first phase. The development will also feature a major entertainment facility, high-end retail shops and dining and convention facilities. In addition, the development will integrate a variety of residences, including waterfront residences with private yacht berths.
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Microtel To Develop Seven Hotels In Canada
Microtel Inns & Suites has executed franchise agreements to develop seven Microtel Inn & Suites hotels in Canada: two in Ontario (including London and Woodstock) and five in Atlantic Canada (including St. John and Moncton, New Brunswick; and Halifax, Dartmouth and Sydney, Nova Scotia). The two Microtel hotels in Ontario are scheduled to break ground in March 2008 and open next fall. The Atlantic Canada properties are all anticipated to break ground in 2008.
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Microtel Unveils New Suite Design
Microtel has introduced a new prototype for suites. Its four-zone design entails a cafe zone with Microtel's MicroKitchen (mini fridge, microwave, sink and coffee maker in a cafe-like setting with granite or wood countertops and bar stools); an activity zone with two desk units equipped with power and data ports and a flat-panel television; a relaxation zone with a pull-out sofa and ottoman and a decorative panel that divides the seating area from the sleep area; and a sleep zone with the brand's new Dream Well bed, window seat and full wall mirror.
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Midwest Shareholders Approve Merger
Shareholders of Midwest Air Group have approved a merger agreement providing for the acquisition of Midwest by TPG Capital for $450 million. Antitrust regulators still must approve the sale because Northwest Airlines is a passive investor. Northwest, which would own 47 percent of Midwest, has said that it would not be involved in Midwest’s management. The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2007.
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Mount Airy Casino Opens Luxury Hotel
Mount Airy Casino Resort in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains has opened a 188-room luxury hotel. The property says each room and suite has been designed with the goal of obtaining a four-star rating. Rooms have pillow-top beds, 37-inch LCD TVs, Internet access and well-appointed bathrooms.
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MSI Introduces Data Management Tool For Hotels
Multi-Systems Inc. (MSI), a provider of hotel technology, has introduced The Helm, a tool that enables a hotel management company or brand to use one system to view data across all properties and make changes that take effect immediately. Rates negotiated at the corporate office can be instantly and seamlessly available to all properties connected via The Helm.
Making a corporate decision or negotiation, such as allowing direct bill, can be an instant reality for all reservations across the chain, says MSI. Management companies using The Helm will have access to real time statistics for all of their properties, and can drill down to further detail. The drill-down capability can be used to see transactional detail at the property level.
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Names In The News 11/01/07
The Association of Corporate Travel Executives has named Imran Changezi regional chair of the ACTE Middle East and Africa region. Changezi, the director of global corporate sales for luxury hotel company Jumeirah Group, is a seasoned hotelier with extensive experience within the Middle East region and has served ACTE membership as an associate of the Dubai Executive Forum Committee.
Benchmark Hospitality International has appointed of Joe Di Girolamo director of sales and marketing for the Heldrich, a luxury hotel in New Brunswick, NJ. He was most recently the executive director of retail sales and group marketing for the Sands Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.
Boutique Hotels & Resorts of British Columbia has appointed Christie McJannet regional director of sales. Previously, McJannet held the position of asset manager for Pinnacle International, based in Vancouver. Concurrently, McJannet was also the director of sales for the Whistler Pinnacle Hotel.
BridgeStreet Worldwide, a provider of serviced apartments, has promoted Max Thorne to vice president of development for the company's Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Prior to his current position, Thorne was director of development, during which time he negotiated over 1,000 units for BridgeStreet's UK inventory.
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group has hired Rick Morris to be executive vice president and chief information officer. Morris was chief information officer for one of Capital One Financial Corp.'s major divisions.
Furnished Quarters, a provider of furnished apartments, has appointed Matthew Damico business development manager for the New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey regions. Prior to joining Furnished Quarters, Damico served as director of national sales for Weichert Corporate Housing.
Host Hotels & Resorts, a hotel real estate investment trust, has announced that Christopher Nassetta has tendered his resignation as president and CEO to become president and CEO of Hilton Hotels Corp., which was recently acquired by the Blackstone Group. Nassetta will remain at Host until the end of November to assist in the transition of duties to the new CEO, W. Edward Walter, who is being promoted from executive vice president and chief financial officer. Nassetta succeeds Hilton CEO Stephen Bollenbach, who retired upon completion of the Blackstone deal. This past spring, Hilton had said president and chief operating officer Matthew Hart would replace Bollenbach as CEO. Hart instead will serve on Hilton's board of directors.
ITA Software, a provider of information technology for airlines, has named several travel industry professionals to its expanding business development management team: David Peller, regional vice president, EMEA and India; Christian Gossel, business development director, EMEA; and Venkat Chandramoleshwar, country manager, India.
JetBlue Airways has appointed Noreen Courtney-Wilds vice president of sales. Courtney-Wilds joined JetBlue in July 2000 as manager of sales and was most recently director of sales and distribution.
The Las Vegas Monorail Co. has named Sandra Semling corporate sales executive. Semling will develop and offer monorail ticket sales programs to meeting and convention planners. She joins the Las Vegas Monorail Co. from the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, where she served as sales manager. Also, Angela Torres was promoted to director of marketing. Torres previously served as a marketing and communications account executive.
TripAdvisor has named Ken Surdan senior vice president of technology, to lead the company's rapidly expanding engineering and IT teams. TripAdvisor has doubled its workforce in the past year, while doubling the amount of content on the site, growing from 5 million to 10 million reviews and opinions. Surdan comes to TripAdvisor from Smart Bargains, where he served as chief operating officer and chief technology officer.
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Names In The News 11/08/07
Auberge Resorts has appointed Angie Cross director of sales and marketing at its newest property, Encantado in Tesuque, NM, just outside Santa Fe. Cross spent three years as director of sales and marketing at the Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe.
Benchmark Hospitality International has named Mark Galbreith director of sales for Lansdowne Resort, the company’s East Coast flagship property 30 miles west of Washington, near Leesburg, VA. Galbreith was the director of corporate sales for the Wardman Park Marriott in Washington.
Davidson Hotel Co. has named Erika Chesley director of sales for the Hilton Pasadena in California. Previously, she held the same position at the Doubletree Hotel Bakersfield in California.
Dolce International, following its recent recapitalization, has reorganized its senior management team in order to expedite expansion plans for North America, Europe and Asia and to further develop the Dolce brand. Mark DePiero has been appointed senior vice president, global acquisitions and development. He will be working with Jan Janssens, director of acquisitions and development, Europe. Debra Bates, chief financial officer, has been named vice president and CFO, also assuming responsibility for corporate sales and marketing. Steve Giblin, president and chief operating officer, will maintain his responsibilities in operations, including technology and human resources. Together with Dan O’Malley, senior vice president of operations in North America, and Philippe Attia, senior vice president of operations in Europe, Giblin will be focused on customer service levels and financial results.
FCm Travel Solutions has opened an office an Dallas that is headed by Amanda Meredith, who opened FCm’s retail location in Los Angeles in 2000.
Jet Aviation has named Sebastian Groeger senior vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation Singapore. He succeeds Michael Sattler, who will return to Jet Aviation Basel as vice president of maintenance. Prior to joining Jet Aviation, Groeger served as vice president and chief financial officer of MTU Maintenance in Berlin-Brandenburg.
Marriott International has named Rajeev Menon to the newly-created position of area vice president for India, Pakistan, the Maldives and Malaysia. Anant Joshi has been appointed regional global sales director for India. Both men will work from Marriott’s new Mumbai regional office, which will house its area operations and regional sales offices.
Pegasus Solutions has named Darin McAuliffe vice president of distribution solutions. McAuliffe will manage Pegasus’ business development with distribution systems for groups, tours and wholesale. Prior to joining Pegasus, McAuliffe was a member of the board of directors for Hotel Booking Solutions, the company he co-founded in 2002.
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Names In The News 11/15/07
Benchmark Hospitality International has appointed Linda Dennis director of sales and marketing for Naples Bay Resort in Naples, Fla. Previously, Dennis served as director of resort marketing for Cay Clubs International, responsible for marketing fifteen resorts, nine marinas and five restaurants.
Carlson Wagonlit Travelhas announced that three of its senior executives will take on new responsibilities within the company on January 1. Berthold Trenkel, currently chief operating officer for Asia-Pacific, has been named to the newly created position of executive vice president of traveler and transaction services, a position was created to further drive client satisfaction while increasing operational efficiency and consistency worldwide. Trenkel has also been named president for Asia-Pacific, based in Singapore. Martin Warner, executive vice president of global account solutions, has been appointed chief operating officer for Asia-Pacific, based in Singapore. Cathy Voss, senior vice president of global accounts for North America, has been named executive vice president of global account solutions. She will be responsible for developing the relationships CWT has with the largest and most global companies around the world.
The Grand Bohemian Hotelin Orlando has named Kevin Donahue director of sales. Donahue was director of sales and marketing for the Westin Stonebriar Resort and Sheraton Stonebriar Hotel in Frisco, Texas.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has appointed Paul Steele to direct its environment initiatives, effective December 1. Steele joins IATA from WWF International, where he served for six years as the organization's chief operating officer.
Jet Aviation has appointed Martin Bernegger senior vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation Dubai, effective January 1. He succeeds Phil Balmer, whose new assignment within the Jet Aviation group will be announced later in the year. Bernegger has been with Jet Aviation for more than 15 years in various management positions within the company's EMEA & Asia aircraft charter and management divisions in Zurich.
Lodging Econometrics, a hotel real estate research firm, has named Marguerite Tarica to its North America sales team. Previously, Tarica was at Reed Construction, providing marketing information to hotel vendors for a variety of product lines.
Millennium Hotels & Resorts has named David Renker senior vice president of sales and marketing and Edgar Elliott vice president of design and development. The appointments come as Millennium steps up its renovation program, starting with a combined $50 million investment in the renovations of the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel in Chicago and the Millennium Bostonian Hotel in Boston. Renker was vice president of sales and marketing at Destination Hotels & Resorts. Elliott was at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, where he spent the past 14 years as director of pre-opening and capital projects.
MonteLago Village Resort in Lake Las Vegas has hired Vanda Milligan and Camille Sousa as sales managers for the corporate and incentive markets. Milligan is an 18-year veteran in hospitality sales. Sousa was a meeting services coordinator at MonteLago Village Resort.
The National Business Travel Association has announced the makeup of its Allied Leadership Council, which represents the NBTA's supplier members. The ALC leadership will be president, Scott Solombrino, CEO of Dav El Chauffeured Transportation Network; and vice president, Rob Deliberto, executive vice president at Carlson Wagonlit Travel. Members in 2008 will be Bradley Carr, vice president of corporate business development, Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Monisa Cline, staff vice president of sales, Continental Airlines; Tom DePasquale, vice president of business development, Concur Technologies; Chris Kroeger, senior vice president, Sabre Travel Network; David Lim, chief marketing officer, Amtrak; Sean McCurdy, global director of worldwide sales, Interstate Hotels & Resorts; and Janet Zablock, vice president, Visa USA.
Omni Hotels has announced that Mike Garcia, formerly the company's chief financial officer, has been promoted to senior vice president of development. Garcia is charged with extending the brand through new property development. He will also serve as senior vice president of business development for TRT Holdings, Omni's parent company.
Red Lion Hotels Corp. has added three sales professionals to its team: Kelly Gwinn as national director of sales, Sheryl Wilkinson as task force director of
sales and Maggie Babb as regional director of sales. Gwinn was formerly director of sales for the Red Lion Hotel & Conference Center in Kelso, Wash. Since 1999, Wilkinson has served as director of sales/task force for Interstate Hotels and Resort's Crossroads Hospitality Division, traveling extensively to hotels in need of assistance. Babb has held senior sales and marketing management positions with large convention hotels for such brands as Sheraton, Hilton, Radisson and Marriott, in addition to independent boutique properties.
Rosen Hotels & Resorts in Orlando has appointed Patrick Anderson to its corporate sales team, responsible for driving new business for the company's three convention properties in Orlando: Rosen Plaza, Rosen Centre and Rosen Shingle Creek. As Mid-Atlantic national sales manager, Anderson will work the Washington, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia markets. Most recently, Anderson served as vice president of sales and travel industry relations for JG Black Book of Travel in New York, where he led a sales team that represented a portfolio of 36 properties.
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Names In The News 11/21/07
Ambassadors International has named Blake Barnett chief financial officer. Most recently, Barnett served as the chief financial officer for the California division of Albertsons, the grocery store chain.
The Association of Corporate Travel Executives honored four of its members with awards of special recognition and professional acknowledgement at the group’s Canada Education Conference in Calgary. The 2007 ACTE Canada Volunteer of the Year Award recipients were Gillian Cody, American Express, Calgary; Deborah Legroulx, Air Canada, Montreal; and Tina Steinfals, Atlific Hotels, Toronto. The 2007 ACTE Canada Ambassador Award was presented to Onita Dey-Frankian, BCD Travel, Toronto.
Glen Cove Mansion in Glen Cove, NY, has appointed Gail Calemmo senior sales manager. Calemmo was previously general manager for the Gershwin Hotel in New York.
InterContinental Hotels Group has named Gopal Rao regional vice president of sales and marketing for Canada. He will be based in Toronto. Rao most recently served as vice president of sales and marketing for Travelodge Canada.
Jet Airways is expanding its North America operations, appointing B. Chandrashekar general manager for the Midwest US; and Justin Gosling general manager for Canada. Chandrashekar, who has worked with Jet Airways since its inception in India in 1993, oversaw the launch of Jet Airways’ daily service from Toronto earlier this year. Gosling will continue the airline’s operations out of Canada. He comes to Jet Airways with almost nine years of experience with Lufthansa, where he worked most recently as the airline’s regional sales manager for western Canada.
MGM Mirage & Kerzner International Holdings have appointed William Velardo president and chief operating officer of their 50/50 joint venture to develop a multibillion-dollar resort on the Las Vegas Strip, expected to open in 2012. Velardo has moved from one Vegas development to another: he most recently was president and chief operating officer of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, a casino and condo-hotel project scheduled to open on the Strip in late 2009.
National Car Rental has appointed Colin O’Keefe director of international accounts for its EMEA corporate sales team. His focus is on working with travel management companies that serve the international corporate travel market across the EMEA region as well as managing a number of key international corporate accounts with significant cross border travel. O’Keefe spent six years working for the Sabre Travel Network as director for car distribution and development, EMEA.
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Names In The News 11/29/07
Agenda: USA, the chauffeured transportation division of Agenda: Kansas City, has promoted Bruce Adcox to manager of the division. Adcox joined AGENDA: Kansas City -- a destination management company providing event coordination, tour and transportation services to organizations in the Kansas City area -- in 1993. Most recently, Adcox served as dispatcher for Agenda: USA.
The Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau has promoted Sharon Kingston to the position of sales manager. Kingston's background includes director of sales positions at the Holiday Inn Airport Marina, Park Inn Resort and Days Inn in Bradenton, Fla.
Carlson Wagonlit Travel has appointed Cindy Fisher to the position of vice president, global sales for North America. A CWT employee since 1984, Fisher has held a variety of positions in local and regional operations management as well as account management and sales. In her most recent position in global sales, she played a leading role in winning new global clients as well as developing relationships with existing clients.
The Crowne Plaza Milwaukee-Wauwatosa, which is scheduled to open in the spring, has appointed Lori Fuhrmann director of sales and marketing. She previously served as senior sales manager for the Four Points by Sheraton at the Milwaukee Airport.
Karisma, a luxury hotel group with properties in Mexico's Riviera Maya, has named Mandy Chomat vice president of sales and marketing. Most recently, Chomat was senior vice president of sales at Sandals.
The InterContinental Los Angeles Century City has named Ken Tippie director of group sales and Patricia Hurley group sales manager. Tippie was most recently in sales at the Doubletree Hotel & Executive Center at Berkeley Marina. Hurley brings experience from InterContinental Hotels Group's global sales office and the Pasadena Convention and Visitors Bureau.
International SOS, a provider of medical assistance and security assistance services for travelers, has named Todd Bardin vice president, security services for the Americas. Bardin replaces David Cameron, who was promoted to group general manager, security services, a new position based out of the International SOS London office. Prior to joining International SOS, Bardin led national and international consulting projects for management consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton.
Millennium Hotels & Resorts has named Edward Carey director of sales and marketing of the Millennium Bostonian. Carey was director of sales and marketing for the Sheraton Ferncroft Resort Hotel in Danvers, Mass.
Virgin America has named David Cush CEO. He replaces Fred Reid, who was forced to resign under the Department of Transportation's terms for the airline's certification. Cush was senior vice president of global sales at American Airlines.
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National Enhances Corporate Program In Europe
National Car Rental has enhanced Club National, its international affinity product for corporate customers operating across Europe. National says it has “increased the competitiveness” of its Club National rates by guaranteeing a significant discount off international web rates for its customers. To ensure Club National rates remain competitive, they are shopped against major competitors on a regular basis, says National.
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National Unveils Global Rental Product For Small Businesses
National Car Rental has developed More4less, an international travel product designed specifically for small businesses. More4less provides access to car rentals across National's global network of 3,800 locations in over 80 countries, giving small businesses the choice of vehicles at rates guaranteed to be lower than those available online. More4less rates include unlimited mileage, collision damage waiver, theft liability waiver, airport charges and taxes. Small businesses also get free membership in National's Emerald Club, which enables travelers to bypass lines at the airport.
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NBTA Study Reveals Rise In Travel Manager Pay
The NBTA Foundation, the education and research arm of the National Business Travel Association, has released its 2007 Travel Management Compensation and Benefits Survey, which shows the average total compensation of respondents -- including salary, bonus and commission -- is 3.3 percent higher than last year at $91,059.
The average year-over-year salary increase among respondents varied by job title. Vice presidents saw an average increase of 18.4 percent to $159,325; directors, a 1.1 percent increase to $123,882; managers, a 4.8 percent increase to $88,354; supervisors, an 8.3 percent increase to $75,717; and coordinators/specialists, a 24.5 increase to $58,765.
Respondents working for companies with annual sales of more than $5 billion made 47 percent more on average than those working for companies with less than $100 million in sales. The results were based on survey responses of 232 corporate travel managers.
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NBTA Taps Greenspan For Conference Keynoter
Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the board of governors of the US Federal Reserve System, will speak during the Wednesday general session of the 2008 National Business Travel Association International Convention & Exposition, to be held July 27-30 in Los Angeles. Greenspan was appointed Fed chairman by four consecutive US presidents, ending up serving in the position for more than 18 years.
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New Orleans' Cosmopolitan Hotel To Undergo Restoration
New Orleans developers Angelo Farrell and Lee Laporte have revealed plans to restore the Cosmopolitan Hotel, located on Royal Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter. The new condominium-hotel will be known as the Royal Cosmopolitan. The project includes the restoration of the original interior and facade of the Cosmopolitan, and the addition of a 26-floor tower set back from Royal Street. The renovation and new additions will include 107 condominium suites and 24 guest rooms. The hotel will have a rooftop swimming pool, a lounge and restaurant on the 26th floor with panoramic views of the city as well as a signature restaurant and bar on the lobby level.
The hotel is scheduled to open in the fall of 2009.
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Nikko To Build Luxury Hotel In Shanghai
Nikko Hotels International will open a luxury hotel in Shanghai in March 2009. The Hotel Nikko Shanghai will have 388 guest rooms in a 25-story building. Facilities will include three restaurants, a lobby lounge, a bar, an executive lounge, banquet rooms, meeting rooms, a business center, a pool, a fitness center, a spa and a parking garage.
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NuTravel Reaches Agreement With Sabre
Sabre Travel Network and nuTravel Technology Solutions have signed a multiyear agreement that enables nuTravel to connect its corporate booking tool to the Sabre GDS. The deal makes nuTravel an “authorized Sabre developer.” NuTravel joins a list of more than 100 companies that have signed Sabre's new developer access agreement for third parties.
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NYLO Relaunches Web Site; Plans Colorado Hotel
NYLO Hotels' new web site has launched with its inaugural property, the NYLO Plano at Legacy, making its debut on December 18 in North Dallas. The site is accepting guest reservations and career applications.
In a separate development, NYLO will open its first hotel in Colorado, at Interlocken Technology Park in Broomfield, in mid-2009. The 176-room NYLO Interlocken will be located in a business park in the heart of the Denver/Boulder high-tech corridor.
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Omega World Travel Agrees To Sell Registered Traveler Memberships
FLO Corp., a registered traveler services provider today has signed an agreement with Omega World Travel. The Fairfax, Va.-based travel management company will distribute FLO's RT 2.0, multi-tiered membership program, to clients in the Washington, DC, area. Omega services 400,000 business travelers nationally and 100,000 in the Washington area. Registered traveler lanes are not yet open at Washington Dulles and Reagan National airports.
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Orbitz for Business Launches International Division, Consolidates Brands
Orbitz for Business has launched Orbitz for Business International, a customized solution designed for companies with international travel requirements. The new business hopes to first offer in-market support in Canada, the UK and Australia, Orbitz's key international markets, according to Dean Sivley, COO and general manager. Orbitz for Business International provides global fulfillment and call center support, and is capable of multiple language and time/date formats and more than 200 currency views.
Although no specific expansion plans have yet been laid, says Sivley, "logical extensions" would reach first into Europe — probably Germany, France and Italy — and then into South America. Orbitz is already agency-of-record for more than 2,000 companies, all in the US, with data delivered through TRX Traveltrax, he adds.
Orbitz Worldwide’s Corporate Travel Solutions Group, comprised of Orbitz for Business and Travelport for Business, is taking on a new name and a single brand identity. Orbitz for Business is now the official name for the company’s corporate travel product.
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Orient-Express Opens Mexico Hotel In Historic Mansion
Casa de Sierra Nevada, an Orient-Express Hotel, has opened Casa Limon, the latest addition to its collection of historic Spanish colonial mansions in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Casa Limon features six distinctive suites; an outdoor, heated swimming pool with a wall fountain; a library, a business center; and a butler assigned exclusively to the mansion. Casa Limon is an 18th-century-style mansion with cloistered outdoor courtyards with fountains, small gardens and al fresco corridors. It is decorated with hand-painted tiles, polished copper sinks, claw-foot copper tubs and regional arts and crafts. Some suites have rooftop Jacuzzis and views of the city; all have flat-screen TVs.
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Orient-Express To Turn NYC Library's 53rd Street Branch Into Hotel
Orient-Express Hotels has signed an agreement to acquire the land and building of the Donnell branch of the New York Public Library, located at 24 West 53rd Street. Orient-Express plans to build a 150-room luxury hotel that has a rebuilt Donnell Library location within it.
The hotel will house contemporary dining, spa and wellness facilities, and expanded banqueting and dining space for the company’s existing restaurant and dining business, 21 Club. The 21 Club backs onto the library premises in its location at 21 West 52nd Street; the two buildings will be connected. The property will be marketed under a new 21 Hotel brand name.
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Park Inn Hotels Open In Germany And Russia
The Rezidor Hotel Group has announced the opening of two Park Inn hotels: the Park Inn Heppenheim in Germany opened this month and the Park Inn Voronezh in Russia will follow in January. The Park Inn Heppenheim is a rebranded property and features 111 guest rooms, a restaurant, a bar and four meetings rooms. Heppenheim is located in the Hessen region, 19 miles away from Frankfurt Airport. The 134-room Park Inn Voronezh will be the first internationally branded hotel in Voronezh, a city located in the southwest of Russia near the Ukrainian border. The property will have a restaurant, a bar, a lounge, six conference rooms and five boardrooms.
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Passkey Introduces Room List Tool
Passkey, a provider of online group reservations, has launched RoomList Express, an automated room list tool for hotels and meetings. RoomList Express lets meeting planners upload their hotel rooming lists anytime at a secure web location, where hotels can then import those lists directly into their own reservations systems. Automating the process, days Passkey, eliminates a great deal of manual labor and error as well as mitigates the security risk associated with exchanging rooming lists via e-mail or fax. The technology can handle room lists of any size in any CSV or Excel format, says Passkey.
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Pierre Hotel Exiting NYC Market Through 2008 For Renovations
The Pierre, a hotel on Central Park and Fifth Avenue in New York, will enter a second phase of renovations on January 1. All 200 guest rooms, the corridors, the public areas, the Cafe Pierre and the bar will be renovated. While banquet business will continue as usual, the hotel will cease taking reservations on December 30; its guest rooms and restaurant will close on December 31.
The Pierre will fully reopen in early 2009 and will begin taking room reservations in late 2008.
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Pilots Sue Pinnacle Airlines
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents the pilots of Pinnacle Airlines, has filed suit in US District Court against Pinnacle management. The pilots assert that Pinnacle violated the Railway Labor Act, the federal statute that governs contract negotiations in the airline industry, when it unilaterally implemented pilot bonus programs by changing the status quo pay and working conditions of the pilots without bargaining and reaching agreement with ALPA.
Pinnacle, which operates Northwest Airlink regional flights, has been negotiating a new contract with its pilots since February 2005 and have been in federally mediated negotiations since September 2006.
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Preferred Hotel Group To License Historic Hotels Brand
The National Trust for Historic Preservation and Preferred Hotel Group have formed a long-term agreement to grow and enhance the Historic Hotels of America brand. Preferred will license Historic Hotels of America from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, managing it as a separate business unit. The partnership adds a fifth brand and more than 200 member hotels to Preferred's portfolio, which already represents more than 400 hotels and resorts around the world.
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Qantas Cargo Unit Fined $61M For Price-fixing Fuel Surcharges
Qantas has entered a plea agreement with the US government to settle its liability in the US resulting from price-fixing within its cargo division. Qantas has agreed to pay a $61 million fine. The illegal conduct involved fuel surcharges in the international air cargo market between 2000 and 2006. "Similar investigations to those being carried out by the United States Department of Justice are being undertaken by antitrust regulators in other countries, including Australia," says Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon. "We understand more than 30 other airlines are included in these investigations."
The US government has already levied fines on British Airways and Korean Air for their participation in price-fixing.
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Red Roof Inn Moves Headquarters To Columbus, Ohio
Red Roof Inn will move its headquarters to Columbus, Ohio, where the economy chain was founded in 1972. The brand's new corporate office will be located on South Front Street in Columbus' historic Brewery District. The company will maintain its current Columbus training facility on East Nationwide Boulevard.
When Accor North America acquired Red Roof Inn in 1999, chain's base of operations was moved to Carrollton, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. In April 2007, Accor sold Red Roof Inn to Citi's Global Special Situations Group and Westbridge Hospitality Fund for $1.3 billion, prompting Red Roof Inn's search for a new headquarters.
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Relais & Chateaux Names New Members For 2008
Relais & Chateaux has added 34 members to its global association of hotels and gourmet restaurants. In the US, Castle Hill Inn & Resort, the Inn at Dos Brisas, Restaurant Bel-Air, L'Auberge Carmel and Restaurant Cyrus have become members. In Canada, Manoir Hovey and Wedgewood Hotel & Spa were accepted. The seven new North American members will bring the total number of Relais & Chateaux properties on that continent to 67.
To qualify for membership, Relais & Chateaux said hotels and restaurants must "assemble an application file that testifies to its exclusive nature and makes a case for its adherence to the qualities and ideals that define Relais & Chateaux."
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Renaissance In St. Louis Completes Meeting Space Renovation
The Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel has completed a $7 million renovation program, featuring a major upgrade of its 37,000- square-foot conference and meeting space and a redesign of its 12th-floor ballrooms. The hotel can accommodate groups ranging from 12 to 1,200.
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Renaissance Offers Single Point Of Contact For Meeting Planners
Renaissance Hotels & Resorts, a Marriott International brand, has launched PlumPerfect, a program providing a single point of contact to meet the needs of meeting and event planners. The program is being rolled out in Renaissance properties throughout North America.
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Reservation Center Inc. Adopts G2 Desktop
Reservation Center Inc., a provider of after-hours call center services for travel agencies, plans to implement G2 SwitchWorks' G2Agent desktop application in its 24-hour service center in early 2008. Reservation Center will deploy G2's graphical desktop in support of its US travel agency clients. G2 claims the desktop 'reduces call time and provides superior search capabilities to return more logical, low-fare airline options to travelers when they need to be re-accommodated.'
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Residence Inns Breaks Ground In San Diego And Phoenix
Ground has been broken ground on the 239-suite Residence Inn by Marriott in downtown San Diego. The hotel is in the heart of the city's Gaslamp Quarter, a block from the convention center. The extended-stay hotel is scheduled to open in 2009.
Also, ground has been broken on a 208-room Residence Inn by Marriott in Phoenix, on the campus of the Mayo Clinic. The hotel is expected to open in early 2009.
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Richardson Hotel In North Dallas To Convert To Hyatt Regency
Noble Investment Group has acquired the Richardson Hotel in northeast Dallas and will convert it to a Hyatt Regency. The 342-room, 17-story hotel is located within the Greenway Office Park and Eastside, a mixed-use development under construction that will include homes, retail space and office space. Renovations are scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2008.
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Shangri-La Plans Second Shanghai Hotel
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts will open the Shangri-La Kerry Centre Hotel, Pudong Shanghai in mid-2010. It will be the group's second Shanghai hotel in addition to the Pudong Shangri-La, Shanghai. The 574-room hotel will be located in the Kerry Centre, Pudong Shanghai, a multi-purpose complex that will include serviced apartments, a retail mall and an office tower. Dining and entertainment options will include an all-day cafe, a Chinese restaurant, a specialty restaurant and a lobby lounge. The hotel will feature a two-floor sports club that includes a gym, a swimming pool, tennis and badminton courts, a yoga studio, a lounge and a juice bar. Meeting and banqueting facilities will include a 26,000-square-foot grand ballroom and a 13,000-square-foot junior ballroom that can be connected to create one space.
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Sheraton Opens In Kansas City
The Sheraton Kansas City Sports Complex Hotel, a 374-room property directly across the street from the Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City, MO, has opened. Acquired last year by Sage Hospitality, the new hotel underwent a $22 million renovation as part of its conversion from a Clarion hotel, including upgrades to all guest rooms, restaurants and public areas.
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SignUp4 Meeting Management Tool To Integrate RESX Booking Capability
TRX has agreed to integrate data from its RESX corporate booking tool into SignUp4's enterprise event and travel management solution, Strategic Meetings Management Suite. TRX says the integrated offering would allow meeting planners to add booking capabilities to their online registration process. By using a single sign-on, meeting registrants will automatically login to RESX at the time of event registration. The registrant's travel requirements entered into an online registration form will pre-populate flight pricing and availability searches within RESX.
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SkyWest Pilots Remain Union Free
SkyWest Airlines pilots have voted to remain union free, rejecting the Air Line Pilots Association’s efforts to become their bargaining representative. Sixty-five percent of the carrier’s pilots voted to not belong to a union. SkyWest, which operates regional flights for Delta, United and Midwest, has been union free for more than 35 years.
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Small Luxury Hotels To Use Trust's Reservations Service In Asia
Trust International, a Travelport-owned provider of hotel technology and distribution solutions, has extended its agreement with Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The hotel collection will use TrustVoice, a voice reservations service, via Trust's own reservations center in Singapore. Trust will provide reservations service for SLH in India, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Australia and New Zealand.
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Sofitel To Create Two Niche Brands
Sofitel Luxury Hotels is creating two sister brands to address niche segments in the luxury market. The first, Sofitel Legend, will be a collection of properties with exclusive services for travelers seeking a very high level of luxury. The second, So by Sofitel, will be a “creative, edgy and stylish” boutique brand.
Seven Sofitels will become Sofitel Legend properties over the next two years: the Grand in Amsterdam; the Palais Jamai in Fez, Morocco; the Winter Palace in Luxor, Egypt; the Old Cataract in Aswan, Egypt; the Santa Clara in Cartagena, Colombia; the Hua Hin Resort in Thailand; and the Metropole in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The first So by Sofitel will open its doors in 2009 in Paris, replacing the current Sofitel Arc de Triomphe. The So Berlin will replace the existing Sofitel Am Gendarmenmarkt.
Sofitel will become a separate business within the Accor Group in order to “stimulate change and ensure the successful implementation of the strategic plan,” says Sofitel. Seasoned hotelier Robert Gaymer-Jones has joined Sofitel as chief operating officer to lead a newly formed management team.
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Sol Melia Acquires German Hotel Chain
Sol Melia, a Spain-based hotel group, has purchased Innside, a German hotel chain. The strategic acquisition enables Sol Melia to significantly increase its presence in Germany from 16 to 28 hotels. All of the hotels are no more than five years old and located in the heart of city centers, says Sol Melia.
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Southampton Beach Resort Planned In Bermuda
Scout Real Estate Capital has begun the demolition of the Wyndham Beach Resort in Southampton, Bermuda, and will build a new luxury hotel on the 32-acre, oceanfront site. The Southampton Beach Resort, expected to open in 2010, will have 150 rooms, a spa and fitness center, several pools and restaurants. The property will also include a variety of retail and shopping venues.
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Southwest Unveils Business Fare That Guarantees Early Boarding
Southwest Airlines has launched Business Select, a new fare that guarantees that the purchaser will be among the first to board the aircraft. Customers who buy Business Select fares also receive extra frequent-flyer points for the flight and a free cocktail.
Along with the new fare, Southwest has a new fare display on its web site. Instead of a large display with numerous fare categories, the airline has streamlined the process by bundling its fares into three major columns: Business Select, Business and Wanna Get Away.
Additionally, Southwest has unveiled enhancements to its Rapid Rewards frequent-flyer program. Rapid Rewards members flying 32 one-way flights or 16 roundtrips in 12 months join the airline’s “A-List,” enabling them to automatically check in for their flight in advance of departure and most likely receive an “A” boarding pass (enabling them to board the plane with the first group of passengers).
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Spirit Launches Ponce Service
Spirit Airlines has begun daily, nonstop service between its Fort Lauderdale base and Ponce, Puerto Rico. Spirit flies to Mercedita Airport, which is three miles from Ponce's business district.
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StarCite Partners With DMI
StarCite, a provider of meetings management technology, and DMI, a collection of hotels, convention and visitor bureaus and destination management companies (DMCs), have formed an alliance that blends the two companies' hotel and DMC supplier portfolios, along with their sales and marketing efforts. StarCite's destination marketing unit offers corporate meeting and incentive planners information about destinations around the world and assists in all phases of planning, including introductions to a portfolio of international DMCs, hotels, airlines, luxury trains and other suppliers.
DMI provides national sales office services to more than 130 hotels, destination management companies, and convention and visitor bureaus. In addition, DMI offers direct sales calls, trade show participation, lead generation and cooperative sales and marketing campaigns for its members.
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Starwood To Manage Three Hotels In Peru
Starwood Hotels & Resorts plans to open three properties in Peru, including its first Westin hotel in South America. Two Luxury Collection properties are also part of the plan.
Scheduled to open in Peru’s capital city in early 2010, the Westin Libertador Lima will feature 311 guest rooms, more than 30,000 square feet of meeting space, a lobby bar and two restaurants. The Palacio del Inca Libertador Luxury Collection Hotel will open in Cusco in 2009; it will have 192 rooms, two restaurants, a spa and more than 1,900 square feet of meeting space. The Valle Sagrado Libertador Luxury Collection Hotel will be the first internationally branded hotel to be built in Urubamba, Peru, near the Inca trail to Machu Picchu. The hotel, to open in early 2010, will offer 128 guest rooms and more than 4,200 square feet of meeting space.
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Staybridge Suites Opens In Sacramento
Staybridge Suites has opened its newest extended-stay hotel in Sacramento, Calif. The 117-room Staybridge Suites Sacramento Natomas is the brand's 22nd opening this year, more than in any previous year. The previous high for one year was 21 in 2003.
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Staybridge Suites Unveils Outdoor Living Room
Staybridge Suites, an InterContinental Hotels Group extended-stay brand, has introduced its Outdoor Living Room, a place where guests can relax and interact. The Outdoor Living Room will be available to new and existing hotels as a decor option in 2008 and can include comfortable, all-weather outdoor living room furniture; stacked-stone fireplaces; open, landscaped gardens with water features and arbors; gazebos with ceiling fans; high definition televisions; and background music.
The first Outdoor Living Room will make its debut at the Staybridge Suites Montgomery in EastChase, AL, when the hotel opens next spring.
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Stratus Alliance Charter Service Launches In Texas
Stratus Alliance, a low-cost aircraft charter network aimed at business and leisure travelers, has chosen Texas as its launch market. Currently, operators in the Stratus Network offer flights into most public use airports throughout Texas and adjacent states. Stratus has growth plans to bring low-cost air charter access to more than 6,000 such airports in the US.
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Sunstone Deploys Passkey Group Reservations Tool
Passkey, a provider of online group reservations technology, says that Sunstone Hotel Properties, a wholly owned subsidiary of Interstate Hotels and Resorts, has chosen to deploy Passkey for online group reservations at 12 of its properties throughout North America. Passkey will be offered as a complimentary service for meeting planners arranging events at Sunstone's major hotel brands, including Marriott, Hilton, Wyndham and Crowne Plaza.
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SuperShuttle Buys Two California Companies
Airport ground transportation company SuperShuttle International has acquired M&M Luxury Shuttle in San Francisco and Minibus Systems in Ontario, Calif. The purchase prices of the acquisitions were not disclosed. M&M Luxury Shuttle, with 15 vans, will be rolled into existing SuperShuttle operations in San Francisco. Minibus Systems' 80-van operation is now a wholly owned subsidiary of SuperShuttle Los Angeles.
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Thrifty Introduces Hourly Rentals In New York
Thrifty Car Rental has launched hourly rentals at its two Manhattan locations (148 W. 83rd Street and 234 E. 85th Street). Hourly rentals are available Sunday through Thursday at a rate of $19 for every two hours, or $60 maximum per day. Customers have their choice of an economy, compact, mid-size or full-size vehicle.
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TIA To Absorb Discover America, Partner With Travel Roundtable
The Travel Business Roundtable, the Travel Industry Association and the Discover America Partnership will begin on January 1 the process of becoming a single organization in 2009. Components of this process include the TIA absorbing the staff of the Discover America Partnership; TBR and TIA jointly creating a multi-faceted public affairs program; TBR and TIA strengthening their internal government-relations capabilities, creating an industry-wide grassroots program, establishing a public policy research center and enhancing their strategic communications; and TBR and TIA exploring a new name for the combined organization.
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Travelport Restructures GDS Management Team
Travelport GDS, which recently acquired Worldspan, has formed a new commercial management team and organizational structure. Led by chief commercial officer Kevin Mooney, the Travelport GDS commercial organization is responsible for the sales, marketing, support and operations of all traditional and online agency customers and supplier relationships, including airline IT services. The three regions of Europe, the Middle East and Africa; Asia-Pacific and the Americas will now sell both the Galileo and Worldspan product lines according to customer need.
The commercial management team includes Bryan Conway, GDS EMEA, based in Langley, U.K.; Brad Holman, GDS Asia-Pacific, based in Australia; Kathy Fitzpatrick, GDS Americas, based in Atlanta; Sandra McLeod, global multinational subscribers, based in Langley, U.K.; Camille Olivere, global online travel agency subscribers, based in Chicago; Kevin Ficco, global IT services, based in Atlanta; Mark Meehan, global operations, based in Langley, U.K.; and Flo Lugli, acting chief marketing officer, based in Parsippany, N.J. Based on the new organizational structure, the following executives will be leaving the organization over the coming weeks and months: Andrew Cuomo, Dave Falter, Graham Nichols, Mike Parks and Jay Rein.
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TRX’s Correx To Provide Transaction-processing To Orbitz
Orbitz has signed a technology agreement with TRX, enabling Orbitz for Business to use Correx, TRX’s reservations-processing platform. Orbitz for Business already utilizes TRX’s Traveltrax solution for data consolidation and reporting. Correx replaces a competing mid-office application, says TRX.
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Turkish Airlines Crafts Flights To US Market
Turkish Airlines is unveiling a new catering concept and business cabins recently renovated expressly for the US market. The airline flies non-stop from Chicago to Istanbul three times a week; and daily flights from New York to Istanbul. The new cabin includes an in-flight entertainment system with a variety of computer games.
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United Takes Wraps Off New Lie-flat Seats
United Airlines’ first international aircraft to complete the carrier’s multimillion-dollar product enhancement has taken flight from Washington Dulles to Frankfurt. United says it is now the first US airline to offer 180-degree, lie-flat beds in business class on overseas flights.
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US Airways Commits To Seven More A330s
US Airways has agreed to terms with Airbus for the order of five additional long-range, wide-body A330-200 aircraft. It has also entered into a letter of intent with International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) for the lease of two A330-200s. These additional aircraft will enable US Airways to continue its international growth plans of adding approximately three to four new markets per year between 2009 and 2011.
The airline expects to take delivery of the five new aircraft from through 2011 and start using the two aircraft from ILFC in 2009. Combined with the 10 A330-200s currently on order from Airbus, US Airways’ A330-200 fleet will grow to 17 by 2011.
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US Airways To Serve Heathrow
US Airways plans to begin service between Philadelphia and London Heathrow on March 29, with tickets available for purchase on December 1. The Philadelphia-Heathrow route will be US Airways’ seventh new transatlantic route since 2006. With the new service, US Airways’ European destinations served from Philadelphia will increase to 20.
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US Airways To Try For Charlotte-Colombia Service
US Airways will apply for daily service between its hub in Charlotte, NC, and Bogota, Colombia, when the US Department of Transportation begins selecting carriers for 21 new flights to the South American nation. Details such as schedule, equipment and start date will be announced when the DOT institutes a carrier-selection process, says US Airways.
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US Helicopter Gets $6.6M In Financing
A group of US Helicopter's shareholders have invested $6.6 million in the company, which US Helicopter says would enable it to move forward with its business plan to expand operations in the New York area and beyond with its airline partners, Continental and Delta. US Helicopter transports passengers to and from New York's Downtown Manhattan Heliport and Atlantic Metroport at East 34th Street to Newark and JFK airports.
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USA3000 Signs Distribution Deal With Orbitz
USA3000 Airlines has agreed to distribute its fares through Orbitz and Orbitz for Business. USA3000, a low-cost carrier, operates flights from many East Coast and Midwest cities (including Cleveland, Philadelphia, Detroit and Chicago) to destinations in Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean.
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Valera Global To Offset 100 Percent Of Emissions
Valera Global, a New York-based premier provider of executive transportation, has joined Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) as an associate member. This commitment contractually obligates Valera to offset 100 percent of its annual greenhouse gas emissions. Under this commitment, Valera Global will annually report its indirect emissions to CCX to verify and audit. Reporting requirements include vehicle use, company air travel and business operations. Once the verification process is complete and total emissions are confirmed, Valera Global is required to purchase and retire CCX Carbon Financial Instrument contracts through the CCX trading platform to fully offset the indirect emissions it produces annually.
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Viceroy Resort Planned For Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Viceroy Hotels and Resorts, a Kor Hotel Group luxury brand, plans to open the Viceroy Zihuatanejo in Mexico in 2010. The property will become the luxury flag's second resort in Mexico after its in-development project, the Viceroy Mayakoba in the Riviera Maya. The Viceroy Zihuatanejo will be located on the Playa La Ropa Beach in Zihuatanejo.
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Virgin America Makes New Menu An In-flight On-demand Service
Virgin America has begun offering passenger an expanded health-conscious menu, which can be ordered whenever they want by pressing a "food button" on their seatback video touch screens. Guests on Virgin America’s transcontinental flights to New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington Dulles now have a range of healthy, fresh menu options, complimentary in first class and for purchase in the main cabin.
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Virgin Nigeria Joins ARC
Virgin Nigeria has taken steps to increase its visibility to travel agents by joining the Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) as a participating carrier and selecting Discover the World Marketing to handle its sales throughout the US and most of Europe. Virgin Nigeria operates long-haul flights between London and Lagos, Nigeria, with continuous service to Johannesburg, South Africa.
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W To Operate First Hotel In Japan
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide entered into a long-term agreement to manage the W Yokohama, W's first hotel in Japan. The W Yokohama will make its debut in 2010 offering 245 guest rooms, more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space, a W Living Room Bar, two restaurants and a spa.
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Westin Opens In Virginia Beach
The 236-room Westin Virginia Beach Town Center hotel, which is managed by Crestline Hotels & Resorts, has opened. The hotel is a focal point of the Town Center of Virginia Beach, a mixed-use, 'main street" style development located at the core of the city's central business district. The hotel has 10,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space.
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Wyndham Unveils Wyndham Grand Collection
Wyndham Hotel Group has introduced the Wyndham Grand Collection, an ensemble of luxury hotels within the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts brand. Hotels in the collection have regionalized design reflecting local surroundings, culinary experiences featuring local and international cuisine, expertise in regional events and attractions, well-appointed spa services and facilities and attentive service.
Hotels in the Wyndham Grand Collection are the Wyndham Grand London Chelsea Harbour, London; Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico; Grand Bay Hotel, Isla Navidad Resort, Manzanillo, Mexico; Corinthia Towers Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic; Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal, Budapest, Hungary; Corinthia Palace Hotel and Spa, San Anton, Malta; Corinthia San Gorg Hotel, St. Julians, Malta; Corinthia Lisboa Hotel, Lisbon, Portugal; Corinthia Nevskij Palace Hotel, St. Petersburg, Russia; Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel, Tripoli, Libya; and Veneto, Panama City.
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