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28
United Airlines this summer became the first U.S. based Star Alliance member to join the alliance’s Upgrade Awards mileage-redemption program. Star Alliance said it is the first major alliance to offer such an option—available on member carriers ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, TAP Portugal, Thai and now United.
Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht said other alliance carriers soon would join the program. With United’s participation in Star Alliance Upgrade Awards, our customers have a much larger number of flights on which they can choose to redeem miles for upgrades, especially across the Americas, as well as on transatlantic and transpacific routes, Albrecht said.
Star Alliance Upgrade Awards require a confirmed booking prior to travel, which can then be upgraded through the existing FFP redemption channels through calling reservations or visiting a Web site, depending on carrier’s offer. United senior vice president of worldwide sales and alliances Graham Atkinson said, Participation in Star Alliance Upgrade Awards greatly enhances the benefits our Mileage Plus program offers United frequent flyers. Our customers can now upgrade on other Star Alliance member airlines using miles from their United Mileage Plus account.
Nov
20
Hotel & Car Rental Information Fall 2006
Filed Under Car Rentals, Hotels | Leave a Comment
Marriott International
last week detailed its growth plan to add 85,000 to 100,000 hotel rooms worldwide within the next three years. Overall, this plan represents a 5 percent -6 percent compound growth annually, and the growth will focus strongly on international properties.
Marriott expects to add more than 30,000 new hotel rooms outside of North America by 2009, which would be an increase of more than 30 percent.
Additionally, as much as 60 percent of additions to Marriott’s full-service brands will come outside of the United States, which it currently reports at less than 1 percent.
Confort Inn
When you stay just two separate times at any Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Clarion or MainStay Suites hotel in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean or Mexico by December 15th, you earn enough points for a free night on a future stay at more than 1,000 hotels.
And the more you stay, the more free nights you can earn. Choice Privileges rewards program is easy, fast and free to join at www.choicehotels.com.
Hyatt
Earn a free night at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts worldwide after every two eligible Hyatt stays between November 1, 2006 and January 31, 2007, when you pay with your MasterCard card. Register at www.goldpassport.com.
After three consecutive years of strong increase in occupancy, U.S. travelers should find major city hotel lobbies a little less crowded in 2007.
While the number of hotel rooms occupied will continue to grow at a 1.4 percent pace, the number of new accommodations is projected to increase by 2% in 2007. The net result is a forecast of a slight 0.6% decline in occupancy for the nation’s largest lodging markets.
Hotels are approaching the peak of the current business cycle,
according to R. Mark Woodworth, president of Atlanta-based PKF Hospitality Research (PKD-HR). A slight slowdown is likely, although the hotel industry is still expected to see continued growth in revenue and profits.
The average occupancy rate is still projected to be a healthy 68% in 2007, which is still well above the long-term average of 66.4%. That means that travelers could still have some trouble booking hotels in certain markets.
Woodworth said that 24 of the 52 cities PKF tracks will see an increase in occupancy in the coming year.
XM Satellite Radio
is back in the National Car Rental fleet –at no charge! The service is available on various models within the midsize, full size, premium, luxury, mini-van and SUV car classes.
XM is America’s number one satellite radio service. The 2006 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels, including music, sports, talk, comedy, children’s and entertainment programming.
Nov
10
Hotels, Cars and Global Forecasts
Filed Under American Express, Car Rentals, Hotels | Leave a Comment
Hotels
No-Smoking Trend Affects European Hotels
European hotel guests prefer smoke-free hotels, according to a recent study by J.D. Power and Associates.
The study found that nearly 70 percent of hotel guests in Europe prefer a smoke free environment-and not just in their rooms.
The desire for a smoke-free environment ranges from 57 percent of guests who reside in Spain to 76 percent of guests who reside in Sweden and the United Kingdom.
In North America, 79 percent of guests want a smoke-free environment. (Source: J.D. Powers press release).
InterContinental Opens New Hotels
InterContinental is opening new hotels under two of its brand names; Staybridge Suites, an upscale, extended stay hotel brand, and Holiday Inn.
It is planning to open 100 more Staybridge Suites and has just opened a new one in Kalamazoo, Mich., and plans to open others in the state.
InterContinental has just opened another new hotel in its Holiday Inn, line, the 96-room Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Williamsburg-Historic Gateway, in Williamsburg, Va. (Source: InterContinental press release).
Cars
Avis Offers Special Pricing
Avis Rent-A- Car System is offering American Express cardholders who use their American Express car to pay for a rental from any neighborhood location up to 25 percent off daily, weekend and weekend rates.
In addition, those who rent for three days or more will receive a $25 American Express gift card. (Source: American Express press release).
American Express Global Forecast
Corporate travel costs will continue to rise, according to the latest American Express Global Business Travel Forecast.
Airfares will continue to rise worldwide, although not as fast as they did this year; hotel rates will continue to increase at the same rate as this year, and, in some markets, even faster.
Specific projections are:
- Global domestic economy fares should rise three to five percent; international business fares, three to seven percent
- Hotel rates will increase two to eight percent and as much as 18 percent in major markets such as New York
- Car rental costs will rise four to six percent in the U.S. and Canada.
Static inventory, increasing demand and volatile fuel costs are driving increases. (Source: American Express press release).
Nov
10
Airlines FootNotes for November
Filed Under Airlines, American Express | Leave a Comment
It’s a Pricier World for Airlines
The Air Transport Association of America has re-launched its quarterly Airline Cost Index. The latest version includes data through the second quarter of 2006.
It covers factors such as fuel efficiency, workplace productivity, labor costs, break-even load factors and travel agency commissions.
Year-over-year highlights show that the composite cost index was up 17.4 percent, compared to a 4.0 percent rise in the Consumer Price Index. The three largest cost components were fuel (25.5 percent), labor (23.8 percent) and transport-related expenses (14.7 percent). Some figures dropped; the average cost of employing a full-time equivalent worker dropped $248 to $72,301.
The overall unit operating cost per available seat mile rose 6.3 percent while the average break-even load factor dropped 3.4 points to 76.7 percent. (Source: ATAA press release).
JetBlue Launches Chicago Service
JetBlue Airways is introducing service to Chicago January 4, starting with five daily flights to New York’s John F. Kennedy International and two daily flights to LA/Long Beach Airport. In other parts of the country, JetBlue continues to expand its service.
In New York, it will introduce two daily flights to Florida from Newburgh’s Stewart International Airport to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando starting December 19 and it will add a daily nonstop to West Palm Beach January 5 2007. In addition, it has just launched non-stop service between Columbus, Ohio, and JFK. (Source: JetBlue press releases)
Delta Introduces Lie-Flat Seats
Delta Air Lines is installing fully horizontal sleeper seats in its international business class service.
It will introduce Contour Premium Aircraft seating early in 2008 when it takes delivery of two new Boeing 777 Long Range aircraft.
Delta joins international carriers British Airways and Virgin Atlantic in offering lie-flat seats on transatlantic routes. American Airlines is upgrading its business class seats to recline to an almost-flat 171 degrees, just a few degrees shy of the full 180-degree recline. (Source: Delta press release)
Northwest Airlines Extends Boarding Pass Faxing Service
Northwest now allow customers to print their boarding passes at international fax machines after checking in for flights over the internet.
This is in response to the fact that many business travelers have a laptop but no printer with them on the road, meaning they can’t check in online because they can’t print out a boarding pass.
In 2005, Northwest enhanced its Internet check-in service to allow customers to select either the “print boarding pass” or “fax boarding pass function after beginning online check in. “(Source, Northwest press release).
United Introduces Washington-Tokyo Service
United Airlines has introduced daily nonstop passenger service between Washington, D.C., and Tokyo, its first-ever Asia service from the nation’s capital.
This fall, United has increased its’ service out of Washington Dulles International Airport by 39 flights. (Source: United press release).
Airlines Open Interim Passenger Lounges in LAX International Terminal
First and business class passengers at Los Angeles International Airport, which is undergoing a $576 million renovation, can use interim premium class lounges in the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
The first class lounge is in the Bradley terminals’ mezzanine. The business class lounge is in a vacant ramp area opposite the terminal; passengers can use it by taking one of a continuing operating stream of buses serving the terminal.
The lounges will be in use until four new lounges open in May of 2007. (Source: Los Angeles World Airports press release).
Nov
6
Jacksonville-Mandarin County Chili Cook-off
This is the 12th Annual Mandarin Chili cook off and this year it will benefit:
Junior Achievement
Cooking Up Partnerships for the Next Generation.
Various items also will be up for raffle and silent auction, including two round-trip airline tickets to anywhere in the continental United States, which are donated by our Williamsburg Travel-American Express Jacksonville office.
Again this year, there will be a children’s Space Walk provided by SpaceWalk of Jacksonville, Southpaw from the Jacksonville Suns; Sweet Cheeks the clown offering face painting; live musical entertainment from Larry Mangum’s TLC Band; and, of course, lots of chili, hot dogs and soft drinks.
More than 1,000 people attended the cook-off last year.
Chili will be judged using a double blind method to ensure impartiality among contestants.
Other sponsors for the cook-off include JP Perry Insurance, Mandarin NewsLine, Nimnicht Cadillac, Stonewood Grill & Tavern, Jennifer Hayes, New Plan, Mortgage Consultant with SunTrust Mortgage and Vystar Credit Union. Secondary sponsors include Kelly Services, Medical Instrumentation Repair, Cravey Communications Inc., Robert W. Burke, CPA, Julington Creek Animal Hospital and NetBank.
Please contact our Jacksonville office for more information.