AirPlus Poll Reveals More Concern For Collaboration Than Scanners
More than 70 percent of travel professionals polled by AirPlus International say they believe that the global implementation of body scan technology will not hurt travel to the US. Most agree that further concentration and collaboration internationally on the topic of traveler safety is necessary:
* 68 percent want further concentration on the "next threat" rather than the "recent attempt;"
* 62 percent want to ensure better communication of watch lists is realized on a
global basis.
* 65 percent support increased and standardized global screening procedures.
The survey was taken among 88 travel management professionals in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia/Pacific, from January 13 to February 10.
Carlson Unveils Growth Plans For Radisson, Country Inn, Park Inn Brands
Carlson Hotels has announced Ambition 2015, a global growth strategy that aims to expand the company's portfolio by at least 50 percent to more than 1,500 hotels in operation by 2015. The program puts special emphasis on growing in the mid-scale market, and its' Radisson, Country Inn and Park Inn brands.
Growth of Radisson as "a powerful, globally consistent, first-class brand" is being supported by new room concepts, new restaurant concepts and a series of new service concepts focused on the guest experience. The strategy for Radisson will entail an investment program of up to US$ 1.5 billion in the North America alone, focused on establishing flagship hotels in key US cities and on upgrading the existing portfolio. The Radisson portfolio is expected to grow to 600 hotels globally by 2015 from its current 422. There are 90 Radissons in the pipeline.
Country Inn & Suites, which currently numbers 485 hotels throughout the world with 80 more contracted under development, is expected to add 250 more properties by 2015, primarily in the US, Canada, India and Mexico.
The mid-scale Park Inn brand, with its scalability and moderate costs, is expected to grow beyond its current 154 (in operation and in the pipeline) global network, especially in Brazil, Russia, India and China. However, Carlson projected no specific numbers for the brand.
Continental Moving Nearer Alliance Partners In DIA's Concourse B
Continental Airlines moves its Denver operations from Concourse A to Concourse B at Denver International Airport today, giving its passengers closer connections with other Star Alliance carrier flights. United Airlines is already located in Concourse B; US Airway expects to be there soon.
Customers with boarding passes who are not checking bags can go directly to Continental's new gate locations at B-16, B-18, B-20 and B-22. The ticketing and check-in counter will remain in its current Terminal East location.
Continental's Presidents Club, currently still located in Concourse A, will close on March 16. It members, plus Star Alliance Gold members and BusinessFirst customers traveling on international flights, will instead have access to the United Airlines Red Carpet Clubs located in Concourse B.
CWT Considers Use Of Outsourced Services From Amadeus
Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore the outsourcing of some of its mid- and back-office transaction technologies to Amadeus. The two companies have a long-standing business relationship, recently reinforced by renewal of a long-term GDS agreement.
"Outsourcing certain elements of our mid- and back-office technology to Amadeus would free up our internal resources to focus on more value-added services," explains CWT's Andrew Winterton, president for suppliers, products and technology. "We see this as a win-win opportunity, offering greater operational efficiency and flexibility for CWT and added value for our clients," he said. He did not say, however, which areas are being considered for outsourcing.
Amadeus offers a range of services for business travel agencies, including Global MAX, which provides multi-currency and taxation processing to streamline exchange processes; a voucher-based accounts payable system that confirms customer payment receipt before issuing related vendor payments; transaction fee capture that enables agencies to act as their own credit card merchant; and detailed commission reports that reduce the time spent on accounting and collections.
Emirates Extends Program For SME Market
Emirates Airlines' business rewards program for the SME market is doubling its reward miles through March. The announcement was made as the UAE Ministry of Economy unveiled its own development program for small and medium-sized enterprises across the emirates. SMEs remain one of the greatest contributors to the UAE's gross domestic product (GDP); more than a third of all Emirates Business Rewards' customers are based in the UAE.
Etihad Expands ANA Codeshare, Launches DMO For Emirates
Etihad Airways, whose codeshare with ANA is just commencing, has launched a new destination management company - Hala Abu Dhabi - which will be based in Abu Dhabi but offer travel products, services and activities in all seven Emirates of the UAE.
The codeshare sees ANA place its two-letter 'NH' code on the four weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Nagoya. In turn, Etihad's 'EY' code is currently used on ANA operated flights between Nagoya and both Sapporo and Fukuoka. As Etihad launches its services to Narita at the end of this month, the codeshare will be extended with 'NH' code on the Abu Dhabi Narita service and 'EY' code on domestic services operated by ANA between Narita and Osaka Itami.
The range of travel products offered under the Hala Abu Dhabi brand includes tours and desert safaris; event management; bespoke experience packages and VIP services; airport meet-and-assist; ground transportation; a full range of accommodation options from luxury to economy; and world-class business conference and meeting venues with state of the art technology and facilities.
Hospitality News Denver: Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center has set aside three parking spaces in its on-premise garage to be re-tooled and dedicated to accommodating electric hybrid automobiles. Arriving guests at the hotel nay simply pull into a clearly marked space and plug in their cars to re-charge. The parking slots can be reserved ahead of time.
Merida, Mexico: Hilton Worldwide has signed a multi-year management agreement with Consorcio Hotelero S.A. de C.V. for the Doubletree by Hilton, Merida, which is scheduled for completion in March 2011. Strategically located in Merida's hotel zone and business district, the hotel will offer convenient access to the city's most important points and proximity to restaurants and shopping, and will be just 10 minutes from Merida International Airport.
New Delhi: Hilton Worldwide has opened the 228-room Hilton New Delhi/Janakpuri. The opening marks the continuation of the Hilton brand expansion in India. The hotel is located approximately 30 minutes' drive from central Delhi, and is strategically close to the international and domestic airports. At the hotel's doorstep is the Janakpuri West Metro station, providing easy access to the central business district including Connaught Place and Gurgaon. West Delhi is home to an affluent residential part of the city, as well as a significant small to medium enterprise business community.
Sacramento, CA: The Courtyard Sacramento Cal Expo has completed a hotel renovation that includes television upgrades, new mini refrigerators, and a new look for the hotel's lobby and lounge. Still to come in 2010: a 24-channel HD viewing package so guests will be able to receive high quality entertainment within their room The hotel's newly remodeled lounge, located on-site next to the Marriott Courtyard Panini Grill, provides another area for guests to relax and unwind in a fresh new casual atmosphere.
Iceland Express To Launch Low-fare Flights From NYC In June
Iceland Express plans to introduce low-fare service connecting New York with Reykjavik four times a week, starting in June. Passengers will leave from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) at 4:20 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. All flights use Boeing B757 aircraft.
By May 2010, the privately-held airline will be serving six European destinations (London, Copenhagen, Alicante, Berlin and Friedrichshafen). By June, it will increase its offering by serving additional destinations, "such as Birmingham (UK), Paris (France), Basel and Geneva (Switzerland), Barcelona (Spain), Bologna and Milan (Italy), Frankfurt (Germany), Luxembourg, Rotterdam (Netherlands), Billund and Aalborg (Denmark),
Gothenburg (Sweden), Oslo (Norway) and Winnipeg (Canada)."
Iceland Express will be represented in the US by AVIAREPS out of its New York subsidiary headed by Eric Pechstein, president and GM.
ISM Conference To Include Sponsors' Mini Sessions, 3 Are Travel-related
The Institute of Supply Management has announced plans to introduce a series of mini educational sessions at its annual conference and exhibition on April 25-28 in San Diego. The sessions will be conducted by senior executives from some of the Conference's major sponsoring organizations. Sessions will last for 20 minutes but speakers will be available to answer questions afterwards. Among the six sponsors so far planning sessions are American Express Global Commercial Card, Concur and Travelocity Business.
Kingfisher Takes First Step To Join Oneworld Alliance
India's Kingfisher Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding as its first step towards full membership in the oneworld airline alliance sometime in 2011. British Airways is acting as Kingfisher's sponsor through the implementation process. Kingfisher will add 58 cities - all in India - to the oneworld route map, expanding its destinations to 800 locations in almost 150 countries.
That process now goes forward with Kingfisher's application to India's Ministry of Civil Aviation for authority to proceed with its membership in oneworld. A target date for Kingfisher Airlines to join the alliance will be confirmed once this approval is gained. The process to bring any airline on board normally takes around 18 months to complete.
LOT Adopts Star Alliance Common IT Platform For Seamless Interlining
LOT Polish Airlines has adopted the Star Alliance Common IT Platform, provided by Amadeus. The airline will now add the Amadeus Altéa inventory module to its customer management system which will create additional synergies with other Star Alliance members, such as improved time to market, reduced costs of ongoing system development and a seamless service offering across the global Star Alliance network. Implementation is expected to be completed by the second half of 2010.
Amadeus Altéa Inventory is designed to enable airlines to implement advanced revenue management techniques, streamline schedules management and significantly improve the time to market of new products. It will also provide "a more seamless interline travel experience" to LOT's customers, adds Justin Erbacci, vice president of information technology at Star Alliance.
Names In The News The Heldrich Hotel and Conference Center in New Brunswick, NJ, has welcomed Susan C. Croggon as its national accounts sales manager, appointed by Benchmark Hospitality International. Croggon has previously represented Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center, located in Peachtree, GA; Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center of Scottsdale, AZ, and Cheyenne Mountain Resort of Colorado Springs, CO.
The National Business Travel Association has filled three newly-created executive-level positions in its own offices and those of the NBTA Foundation. Edward Silver, formerly of the Hudson Crossing consultancy, will serve as the chief technology officer (CTO) for both the Association and the Foundation. Prior to Hudson Crossing, Silver was vice president of technology and operations and COO and lodging.com. Diane Young has accepted a position as vice president, finance and controller. Young was formerly director of finance and administration at the American Industrial Hygiene Association in Fairfax, VA. The NBTA Foundation has added Joseph Bates as director, research and project management. Bates was director of research at the Consumer Electronics Association for more than seven years. In addition to the new hires, NBTA also announced that Sallie Dietz, formerly HR administrator and office manager, has been promoted to director of human resources. Dietz has been with NBTA for five years.
NBTA Schedules Webinar To Discuss Changes In Revised CSR Awards
The application and selection processes for the National Business Travel Association's second annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards have been revised "to make the criteria more rigorous, bestow the awards even greater prestige, and keep the selection process in line with the evolving CSR landscape." With applications due by April 19, the Association's CSR Committee has scheduled a webinar for March 18 to answer participants' questions.
The awards, made in recognition of innovative and significant CSR initiatives implemented in 2009, will be presented at the 2010 NBTA International Convention & Exposition on August 8-11 in Houston. One Direct and one Allied company will receive the awards, with acknowledgement to the member and any other individuals directly related to the initiative.
The program addresses companies' activities in the fields of duty of care for business travelers; measurement and reduction of travel-related carbon emissions; carbon trade-offs and social programs in the community and for employees.
NBTA Europe Plans First Annual Conference For September In Lisbon
NBTA Europe has announced that it will hold its 2010 conference in Lisbon on September 6-8, followed by two days of sessions replicating the Wharton MBA program sponsored by NBTA in the United States. The Conference will begin with an evening of social networking, followed on by two days of educational sessions. Two of the four planned content streams will be a "Stimulus Stream" of fresh perspectives on business travel and meetings issues; and a "European 100 Stream" focused on the best practices of Europe's top 100 businesses.
An estimated 250 delegates are expected to attend.
Starwood Unveils First Of 10 Planned Telepresence Suites
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has unveiled its first in-hotel Cisco TelePresence meeting suites - at the W Chicago City Center and Sheraton on the Park Sydney - with a virtual, interactive meeting in which the participants were more than 9,000 miles apart and the 17 hour time difference. Two more Cisco TelePresence meeting suites will open in the first half of this year at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers and Sheraton Centre Toronto.
Starwood announced its partnership with Tata Communications and plans to build Cisco TelePresence rooms in 10 properties worldwide in June 2009. Other Starwood locations planned to open throughout 2010 include The Westin Los Angeles Airport, with the anticipation to expand the offering to key domestic and international business markets such as Dallas, San Francisco, Brussels, Paris, Hong Kong and Frankfurt.
The Next 8 Days
March 9 ACTE - Toronto will meet from 8 am through 3 pm in Toronto's Delta Chelsea Hotel. www.acte.org
March 9 Austin BTA meets at 11:15 am in Hilton Austin.www.austinbta.org
March 9 Connecticut/ Westchester BTA meets at 11:30 am in Sheraton.www.cwbta.org
March 9 Inland Northwest BTA will meet at 11:30 am in the Spokane International Airport. www.inbta.org
March 9 NBTA - Australia will meet in Melbournewww.nbta.org
March 9 Tampa Bay BTA will meet at 11:30 am in the Quorum Hotel Tampa.www.tbbta.org
March 9 Tennessee BTA meets at 11 am in Holiday Inn Select Vanderbilt. www.tennesseebta.org
March 10 Alaska BTA will meet at 11:30 am in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Anchorage in Midtown.www.alaskabta.org
March 10 Chicago BTA will meet from 7:30 am to noon in Westin Lombard Yorktown Center. www.chicagobta.org
March 10 Florida BTA South meets at 11:30 am in NCCI Headquarters, Boca Raton.www.fbta.org
March 10 Hawaii BTA meets at 11:30 am in Ala Moana Hotel's Plumeria Room in Honolulu. www.hawaiiabta.org
March 10 Los Angeles BTA meets at 6 pm in Manhattan Beach Marriott.www.labta.org
March 10 MPI-Chicago will meet from 3/10 at 1 pm through 3/12 at noon in the Marriott O'Hare, Chicago.www.mpi-forum.org
March 10 Texas BTA meets at 11 am in Hilton Houston North.www.texasbta.org
March 10 Wisconsin BTA meets at 5 pm in Discovery World Museum.www.wisconsinbta.org
March 11 MPI - Chicago will meet at 11 am in AMC River East Theater.www.mpt-cac.org
March 11 NBTA - Australia meets in Sydney.www.nbta.org
March 11 New England BTA meets at 8 am in The Lenox Back Bay Bostonwww.nebta.org
March 11 New York State BTA will meet at 11:30 am in Staybridge Suites Buffalo.www.nysbta.org
March 11 North Carolina BTA meets at 5 pm in The Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill, NC.www.northcarolinabta.org
March 11 North Central BTA will meet at 11 am in Millenium Minneapolis.www.northcentralbta.org
March 11 Oregon BTA meets at 11:30 am in the Red Lion on the River in Portland.www.obta.org
March 11 Silicon Valley BTA will meet at 11:15 am in Fourth Street Summit Center, San Jose. www.svbta.org
March 11 Utah BTA meets at 11 am in Courtyard Sandy, Sandy.www.ubta.org
March 15 - 16 Connecticut/ Westchester BTA will meet from 8 am on 3/15 to 5 pm on 3/16 in New York City. www.cwbta.org
March 16 NBTA - Australia meets in Brisbane.www.nbta.org
March 16 New York City BTA meets from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm in Crowne Plaza Times Square in New York.www.nycbta.org
March 16 Saint Louis BTA will meet at 10 am in Hilton St Louis Airport.www.stlbta.org
March 17 Arizona BTA meets at 11 am in Montelucia Resort in Paradise Valley.www.azbta.org
March 17 Bay Area BTA meets at 5:30 pm in San Francisco's Sir Francis Drake Hotel. www.babta.org
March 17 Puget Sound BTA will meet 11 am in Seattle's Safeco Field. www.psbta.org
March 17 Rocky Mountain BTA meets from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm in Denver's Colorado Convention Center. www.rmbta.org
March 17 Virginia BTA will meet at 5:30 pm in Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa. www.vabta.org
Travelocity Business, Certify Join To Simply SMEs' T&E Expense Control
Travelocity Business will integrate its system with Certify, a provider of online expense management services to small and medium-sized businesses. Additionally, Certify will offer its clients direct access to Travelocity Business from within the product for quick and easy travel scheduling.
The Certify Wallet allows travelers to capture expense receipt data through nine separate methods, including the iPhone, Blackberry and other mobile devices. The solution supports more than 130 foreign currencies with real time currency conversion, and also includes support for tracking value added tax (VAT) payments. These tools will allow Travelocity Business to expand the reach of its offering internationally, allowing small to mid-sized businesses around the globe to leverage Travelocity Business' platform.
Travelport's Contract With Agencia Abreu Extended
Portugal's Agência Abreu travel agency has renewed its contract for Travelport's Galileo platform. The agreement will further reinforce Agência Abreu's services and products to customers in Portugal as well as Spain, the US and Brazil.
Trust Int'l Partners With Mezze Associates To Build Middle East Market
Trust International is partnering with Dubai-based Mezze Associates to extend its central reservation systems (CRS) in the UAE region. Mezze provides central reservation, technology and distribution systems for hotel chains across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and will be providing their experience and local knowledge as part of the "eXperience new markets" initiative within Trust's "eXperience Better Business" campaign, currently being rolled out worldwide.
The partnership is in discussions with some prominent hotel chains looking for CRS platforms.
