Nov

10

Hotels, Cars and Global Forecasts

Filed Under American Express, Car Rentals, Hotels 

Garden dining in Rome

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).

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