Acclaim Meetings Will Auction Hotel Blocks For Canceled Meetings
Acclaim Meetings has announced "Unused Blocked Space Auctions," a new service designed to help its members (meeting planners and travel agents) mitigate clients' liability when a meeting or event must be cancelled. Under the plan, when a member must cancel a meeting for a client, and the client is responsible for the rooms, Acclaim promotes the space to its network of meeting specialists in the US and Canada in order to find a new client that needs the space over the same dates. This reduces or eliminates the original client's liability and delivers an excellent rate to the new client.
ANA's New JFK-Narita Flights Delayed By Seating Snafu
All Nippon Airways has announced that its planned February 20 introduction of new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on its Narita-New York route - which has been branded "Inspiration of Japan" - has been postponed to April 19 because of a delay in the development of its new premium economy seats. The service will begin without the premium economy seating which will begin when the new seats are delivered; that is now expected to be in August.
Until the new seats arrive and are installed, the 24 allocated spaces for the new service will be relegated to economy class. Since the new premium economy seats are slightly larger than economy seats, that actually adds 27 seats to economy class.
Austrian Airlines Signs Long-term, No-surcharge Contract With Amadeus
Austrian Airlines and Amadeus have signed a full content agreement that runs from March 1, 2010, until the end of 2014. The agreement ensures that Austrian Airlines' schedules, fares, last seat availability and associated inventory will be available through Amadeus with no surcharge. Further it will be the same inventory, available under the same conditions, as in all other direct or indirect sales channels, distribution systems or web sites worldwide. Amadeus is one of the most important distribution partners of Austrian Airlines.
Choice Makes Online Searches Easier With Redesigned Web Site
Choice Hotels International has introduced its redesigned web site, with easier search features and improved design to satisfy the hotel search needs. Features of the new site give users the ability to:
• search by attraction, city, Zip code and address, using a single entry.
• compare hotels, highlighted deals and amenities.
• compare rates and packages according to needs and interests.
• save favorites for trip planning and faster future booking.
Improvements also include a streamlines online profile and account sign-in plus improved Choice Privileges pages for easier account management.
CTS Tailors Program For India-bound Business Travelers
Corporate Travel Specialists (CTS), a new division of Up and Away Travel, has introduced "Affordable India," a program tailored specifically for India-bound business travelers with "significant" savings on Business and First Class flights, accommodations at top tier hotels, and private airport transfers.
Travelers booking the standard package will fly to India aboard one of Air India's new Boeing 777 aircraft, departing from Newark or Chicago to Delhi or Mumbai. Affordable India packages are also available with non-stop flights from New York, flights from other US gateways and on other carriers, and with accommodations at other outstanding hotels. Departure taxes, airport security fees (including the Sept.11 Security Fee), and fuel surcharges (if applicable) are not included in the package prices.
The hotels available in the standard package include the Hilton New Delhi and Hilton Garden Inn in Delhi; Accommodations in Mumbai are at the JW Marriot Hotel or the Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center. All of the properties are conveniently located, and feature state-of-the art business centers and meeting facilities. They also have justly deserved reputations for their attentive personal service, spacious and elegantly appointed rooms, and fine restaurants.
Etihad Airways launches Japan services
Etihad Airways launched its service to Japan last week with the first flight on its new Nagoya-Abu Dhabi route. Etihad will initially fly four times a week to Nagoya, via Beijing, increasing to five flights a week on March 29. It will operate two-class Airbus A330 aircraft on the route. Etihad will expand its Japan operations with the launch of Abu Dhabi-Tokyo services on March 27.
Farelogix, Mobiata Join To Sell Airlines' Ancillary Products Via Mobile Phones
Farelogix has partnered with Mobiata to deliver advanced airline merchandising capabilities to mobile devices, beginning with iPhone and Android smartphones, and soon followed by Blackberry devices. The collaboration - integrating Mobiata's FlightTrack and TripDeck applications with Farelogix's FMS2 merchandising solution - will allow airlines to market and sell ancillary products and services to travelers via their mobile phones.
With the combined solution, airlines can activate the merchandising features in Mobiata's applications to provide travelers with timely offers based on passenger location or at other points during the purchase and itinerary review process. For example, travelers with carry-on luggage could receive priority boarding offers while en route to the airport; while travelers that either missed a flight or are experiencing weather delays can receive an offer for a day pass to the airline lounge.
Frontier Stepping Up Destinations, Frequencies & Capacity To Select Cities
Frontier Airlines is adding seven new destinations to its summer 2010 schedule from its Denver International Airport (DEN) hub, as well as increased frequencies to four popular destinations for the peak summer travel season, and the expansion of its current seasonal service between Denver and Fort Myers to year-round. The new routes and frequencies will be available for sale beginning February 14.
The new service includes new nonstop service to Branson, MO; Grand Rapids, MI; Long Beach and Santa Barbara, CA; Madison, WI; Newport News-Williamsburg, VA; and seasonal nonstop service to Green Bay, WI. In addition, Frontier will add a third daily frequency to New York-LaGuardia on April 19 and a fifth daily frequency to Portland, OR; San Francisco; and Seattle/Tacoma on May 14 for the peak summer travel period.
Also, effective April 19, all service between Denver and Albuquerque, Oklahoma City, Omaha and Salt Lake City will be provided by jet aircraft, including E170s, E190s and Airbus, increasing capacity and reducing journey times.
*an alert if a traveler views a higher-than-negotiated hotel rate;
*the ability to view and approve traveler bookings on their mobile phones;
*inclusion of special information - for instance negotiated fee breakfast and internet at a preferred hotel - that helps travelers make informed hotel selections based on preferences, negotiated amenities and location while still booking within policy.
*identification of individual preferred hotels within the program that meet the company's defined standards for sustainable hotels.
Other recent GetThere innovations affect broader areas: the addition of Japanese- and Chinese-language options to its platform; the ability to exchange a greater percentage of unused tickets online; the inclusion of flights, schedules and ancillary offerings from 26 EMEA-based carriers that typically do not participate in global distribution systems; and the addition of 1,700 international rental car locations.
ITM To Produce Educational Sessions For Independent Travel Show
The Institute of Travel & Meetings (ITM) is partnering with producers of the annual Business Travel Market, and will develop five conference sessions themed "Innovation." This year's event, is scheduled for June 16-17 in London.
ITM is the third travel industry association to partner with the Market. The Hotel Booking Agents' Association (HBAA) and the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) are both in the second year of their respective agreements. Each is creating its own stream of content for the conference, which is open, free of charge, to both buyers and suppliers.
Mark Harris, one of the two developer/managers of Business Travel Market, ran the ITM conference for six years before launching the Business Travel Market.
Hospitality News Bangkok: Privately-held Country Group has appointed Dubai's Jumeirah Group to manage a 305-room luxury hotel scheduled to open here in 2014, close to the city's central business district. The hotel, to be called Jumeirah Bangkok, will include a 1,200 square meter conference center.
Christchurch, New Zealand: The new 193-room Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square has opened its doors in the heart of the city on Cathedral Square. The new complex includes the fully-restored Warner's Hotel, originally built in 1863. The Warner's portion includes 23 heritage rooms and suites; the remaining 170 rooms are part of the new building, which includes five meeting rooms with a maximum capacity for 200 attendees.
Clearwater Beach, FL: The Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa has opened on the west coast of Florida. Accommodations include 250 deluxe, one- and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens plus indoor and outdoor function space.
Fort Lauderdale:The Crowne Plaza Fort Lauderdale Airport/Cruise has opened at 455 State Road 84, one-half mile from the Ft. Lauderdale Airport, and near several leisure and business destinations, including the Port Everglades Cruise Center, the Downtown Government Center and the 600,000 square foot Broward County Convention Center. The hotel has 150 guestrooms and more than 6,000 square feet of flexible, upscale meeting space. The property is owned by FLL Hotels Inc. and managed by Luckey's Management Inc.
Hamilton, Ontario: The Crowne Plaza Hamilton has opened after a conversion from an independent hotel. The 214-room hotel is located minutes from Copps Coliseum, Theatre Aquarius and Ivor Wynne Stadium. Its intimate options for smaller meeting groups and special occasions are complemented by 19,000 square feet of banquet space. A 372-seat state-of-the-art theatre allows for larger scale presentations. The hotel is owned by Dantes Hospitality, and managed by Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company.
Morristown, NJ: They Hyatt Morristown hotel has completed its $7 million renovation, including suites on all 13 of its floors. The renovation includes all architectural finishes and fixtures, as well as custom furniture items, including a built-in wall-to-wall desk along the window wall. The hotel also offers more than 31,000 square feet of meeting space, including four ballrooms.
New York City: The InterContinental New York Times Square is slated to open in July on 44th Street. The 36-story new-build hotel will total 607 guest rooms, including 29 corner suites and a duplex Presidential Suite. As one of the closest hotels to Javits Convention Center, it will offer 10 meeting rooms totaling 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, inclusive of a 4,000 square foot ballroom. Additionally, there are 25 flexible suites that can be utilized as event space. Upon completion, the hotel will have LEED certification.
Palmdale, CA:The Embassy Suites Palmdale, featuring 150 suites and 3,032 square feet of meeting space, has opened here just off Interstate 14 in the Antelope Valley, 60 miles north of Los Angeles. Major aerospace destinations in the area include Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, NASA and Edwards Air Force base. The property is owned by the Palmdale Lodging Associates and managed by Sun Development & Management Company of Indianapolis.
Richmond, British Columbia: The Westin Wall Centre has opened here less than four kilometers from Vancouver International Airport and 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver by Skytrain. The 176-room hotel offers easy access to the Aberdeen Centre, River Rock Casino and Royal Canadian College as well as the Richmond Olympic Oval. A unique aspect of the hotel's green design is a "Living Wall," which incorporates 360 living panels consisting of more than 9,000 native plants. The hotel offers more than 9,900 square feet of functional meeting space, including a 4,700-square-foot ballroom.
Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec: The 94-room Holiday Inn Express(r) and Suites Saint-Hyacinthe has opened near Montreal, offering more than 1,000 square feet of meeting space and a state-of-the-art fitness centre with an LCD flat panel TV. The hotel also offers 25 Business Class Suites,The hotel been built to meet the LEED rating system for its sustainable practices. Holiday Inn Express and Suites Saint-Hyacinthe is owned and managed by Hôtel M Inc.
San Diego: The Andaz San Diego has debuted in the city's Gaslamp Quarter, in the property formerly known as the Ivy Hotel.
Surrey, British Columbia: The newly-built Holiday Inn & Suites Surrey has opened here, within driving reach of both Vancouver and the US border, as well as Vancouver and Abbotsford international airports, ferry terminals and the Trans Canada Highway. Though important to IHG's strategy of expanding its consumer base, the hotel is minutes from several businesses, including Telus and International Paper Industries. The hotel, which is owned and managed by Kartar Business Operations Ltd., offers more than 2,380 square feet of function space for business meetings and banquets.
Lufthansa Testing iPhone-based Airport Navigation System
Frankfurt Airport is home base for tests being run on Lufthansa Navigator, a new iPhone application that guides travelers through airports, and delivers information - such as scheduled and expected departure times - about specific flights. It is available in both German and English and can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple AppStore.
Once Lufthansa Navigator starts, passengers are prompted to choose from various options such as going to check-in, finding a lounge or going directly to the gate. A list of all current Lufthansa flights with the respective gate numbers is then displayed. As soon as the destination has been entered, the route from the user's current location is calculated and displayed on an on-screen map. To aid orientation, photos of the surroundings are integrated in the map at significant points along the way, and an arrow indicates which direction to take.
Passengers can also check out the route ahead of time at home using the simulation mode.
Names In The News HVS Executive Search has appointed Andrew Hazelton as vice president, based in New York. Andrew is an experienced recruiter and has worked on executive search assignments for several industries including healthcare, technology, finance, hospitality and real estate. Hazelton's past experience includes six years with Korn/Ferry International.
Virgin Atlantic Airways has appointed Andy Grodecki as its new vice president of sales, North America. Grodecki replaces Simon Newton-Smith who has been appointed to the position of country manager, South Africa in Johannesburg. Grodecki's most recent position was as manager of global and multinational accounts at the airline's headquarters in Crawley, UK.
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts has named Bob Nelson general manager of the Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center in Glen Allen, VA. Previous to taking the helm at Virginia Crossings, Nelson was managing director of Pacific Palms Resort and Conference Center near Los Angeles, where he directed a major expansion of the property.
The new Group Tour section allows Group Tour planners to pick out sample itineraries that are of interest; build an itinerary selection online; and then have that list emailed directly to the QCCVB for follow-up and booking assistance.
In the Visitors section, new member listings have been added to promote to the latest in tourist travel trends, including pages for "Wineries & Microbreweries," "Health & Beauty," "Camping & RV Parks". Also, new and more powerful search features powered by Google Site Search allows visitors to quickly search the Event Calendar, our Member Directory, and the entire website from one location.
Across the entire site, "Book a Hotel Room" is available on every page, allowing visitors to find things to do, find places to eat, and easily make a hotel reservation from one website.
Republic Phasing Out Lynx, Migrating Most Service Routes
Republic Airways Holdings says it is phasing out Lynx Aviation, the subsidiary that was part of its acquisition of Frontier Airlines. The process will commence on April 5, when service to Fargo, ND, and Tulsa cease. Service to all other current Lynx destinations will be served by Republic Airlines.
Through April, Lynx Q400 turboprops will be taken out of service and their routes transferred to E170 and E190 jets operated by Republic, which will also terminate its leases on seven smaller regional jets operated by Chautauqua. The reductions will result in the elimination of 175 positions at Lynx; most of those personnel will be offered similar positions with either Republic or Frontier. The last stages of the phase-out are expected to be complete by mid-September.
Starwood Lowering Sheraton Flag In Times Square As NYC Roster Grows
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide says it will remove the Sheraton flag from the 665-room Sheraton Manhattan at Times Square in New York City in April, as it explores options to maximize the long-term value of the property. The company says its final plan will include a hotel flying one of Starwood's brand flags - as yet unspecified. The redevelopment of the city block of Manhattan real estate could include combining the resulting hotel with retail and office uses.
The hotel will remain open as the company finalizes redevelopment plans, and will continue to be a member of the Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty program.
Starwood made the decision to operate the hotel as an independent because it does not currently meet the upgraded standards of the Sheraton brand, which is culminating a three-year, $6 billion dollar global overhaul. So far, Starwood has removed the Sheraton brand from 32 hotels.
New York City is Starwood's biggest market in terms of hotel properties. Thirteen are already in service and there are plans to open six more in 2010, including two new high-profile Sheraton properties in Brooklyn and Tribeca, the W New York Downtown and the Four Points by Sheraton Long Island City. In addition, the debut Starwood's two newest brands with the openings of Aloft New York Brooklyn and Element New York Times Square West will bring its total number of New York City properties to 19. In addition, the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers, the Sheraton brand's flagship New York property, will launch a $90 million renovation later this year.
The Next 8 Days
Feb. 9 Austin BTA meets at 11:15 am in Radisson Hotel & Suites, Austin. www.austinbta.org
Feb. 9 Connecticut/Westchester meets at 11:30 am in Doubletree Norwalk Hotel. www.cwbta.org
Feb. 9 Inland Northwest BTA will meet at 11:30 am in the Spokane Masonic Center. www.inbta.org
Feb. 9 Rocky Mountain BTA will meet at 11 am in the Downtown Aquarium in Denver. www.rmbta.org
Feb. 9 Tampa Bay BTA meets at 11:30 am in the InterContinental, Tampa. www.tbbta.org
Feb. 9 Tennessee BTA will meet at 3 pm in McGee Tyson Airport-Knoxville, Alcoa. www.tennesseebta.org
Feb. 10 Alaska BTA meets at 11:30 am in Millennium Alaskan Hotel, Anchorage. www.alaskabta.org
Feb. 10 Florida BTA meets at 11:30 am in Embassy Suites, Ft. Lauderdale. www.fbta.org
Feb. 10 Los Angeles BTA will meet at 5:30 pm in The Standard, Downtown LA. www.labta.org
Feb. 10 Texas BTA meets at 11 am in Embassy Suites Energy Corridor, Houston. www.texasbta.org
Feb. 11 Baltimore/Washington BTA will meet at 11:30 am. www.bwbta.org
Feb. 11 New England BTA meets at 5:30 pm in Four Seasons, Boston. www.nebta.org
Feb. 11 New York City BTA will meet from 6 to 9 pm in Marriott Marquis, New York. www.nycbta.org
Feb. 11 North Central BTA will meet at 11 am in Crowne Plaza Northstar Hotel. www.northcentralbta.org
Feb. 11 Oregon BTA will meet at 11:30 am in Hilton Hotel Downtown Portland. www.obta.org
Feb. 11 Silicon Valley BTA meets at 11:15 am in Crowne Plaza Hotel Milpitas. www.svbta.org
Feb. 11 St. Louis BTA will meet at 5:30 pm in Crowne Plaza St. Louis Downtown. www.stlbta.org
Feb. 11 Utah BTA meets at 11 am in Hilton Salt Lake City Center. www.ubta.org
Feb. 16 Dallas Fort Worth BTA will meet at 10:30 am in Hilton DFW Lakes, Grapevine. www.dfwbta.org
Feb. 16-18 NBTA will meet in Washington, D.C. for the Masters Program. www.nbta.org
Feb. 16 Nebraska Iowa BTA meets at 3 pm in Embassy Suites La Vista, Omaha. www.nibta.org
Feb. 17 ACTE will connect online at 11 am EST for "The New Reality-Taking a Closer Look at the New Travel Management Landscape". www.acte.org
Feb. 17 Arizona BTA will meet at 11 am in Tempe Mission Palms. www.azbta.org
Feb. 17 Bay Area BTA will meet 5:30 pm in Le Meridien San Francisco. www.babta.org
Feb. 17 Philadelphia BTA meets at 11:30 am in Holiday Inn Historic District, Philadelphia. www.phillybta.org
Feb. 17 Pittsburgh BTA will meet at 11 am in Radisson Greentree, Pittsburgh. www.pbta.org
Feb. 17 Puget Sound BTA meets at 11 am in The Westin Bellevue. www.psbta.org
TravelSky Extends Pact To Use Travelport's E-ticket Technology In China
TravelSky, mainland China's global distribution system, has extended its agreement to use Travelport's E-Ticket Interchange system and its interline e-ticketing (IET) capabilities. Travelport's E-Ticket Interchange performs interactive message translation and switching functions between airline partners for interline e-ticketing, as well as both interactive and control methods for ground handling. The interline electronic ticketing (IET) infrastructure built into the Interchange removes technology barriers by allowing any electronic ticket- enabled airline to easily, quickly and cost-effectively connect with their interline partners.
TravelSky processes more than 200 million passengers a year in a rapidly growing travel market. Its customers include 30 domestic airlines and nearly 200 regional and international airlines, 147 domestic airports and 7,000 ticket agents. Its service range reached into 300 cities in China, 80 overseas cities and into social networking sites.
Vantage Using Biodegradable Packaging For Guest Room Amenities
Vantage Hospitality Group has joined the hospitality industry's green movement with the announcement that all of its nearly-900 Americas Best Value Inn and Canada's Best Value Inn properties will offer all guest room amenities in biodegradable packaging.
