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Owners discounts on travel related services
5 September 2010, 11:00 pm

        The Hertz Corporation and ExpertFlyer.com announced that the two companies have partnered to provide small businesses exclusive savings on travel services including Hertz rental cars, ExpertFlyer.com membership, and discounts from other corporate program participants. The new alliance emphasizes the continuing need for travel service companies to create effective ways for small businesses to maximize their travel budgets."We are delighted that ExpertFlyer is now a partner in our Hertz Business Account Program," says Michael Senackerib, Chief Marketing Officer, The Hertz Corporation. "Our goal at Hertz is to provide customers with a value proposition that exceeds their expectations. Building our Business Account Program with travel service partners such as ExpertFlyer expands that proposition to small businesses to help them maximize their budgets, especially during these trying economic times."

The Hertz Business Account Program offers exclusive savings and benefits to small businesses including up to 20% off car rentals, complimentary membership to Hertz #1 Club Gold for the first year, and the ability to earn credits toward free rentals. In addition to savings on Hertz products and services, members enjoy exclusive savings from other program partners including American Express OPEN and FedEx. These benefits, and more, will be available to all new and current ExpertFlyer subscribers.

As a corporate partner in the Hertz Business Account Program, ExpertFlyer.com will extend a 15% discount on its subscription fee to all Hertz program members. ExpertFlyer allows business travelers and frequent flyers to take control of their air travel planning process by providing several unique features and functions for obtaining complete, concise, and efficient ways to access worldwide air travel information.

"ExpertFlyer offers a series of unique travel tools that allow business travelers to make well-informed travel decisions," explains Chris Lopinto, President and co-founder of ExpertFlyer.com. "Having an internationally-respected brand like Hertz as a member of our Partner Program enhances our efforts to provide maximum value for our subscribers. Ultimately, the collaborative effort between the two companies will strengthen the buying power of business travelers."

Hertz Business Account Program

For small businesses looking for a company car rental program, Hertz"s Business Account Program includes a number of cost-saving benefits including up to 20% off Hertz car rentals, a one year complimentary membership in Hertz #1 Club Gold, earned Free Rental Days and more.  Members can also receive additional savings on Business Account Program partner services including American Express OPEN, FedEx and ExpertFlyer.com.

ExpertFlyer.com

A number of advanced and unique information tools found at ExpertFlyer represent the most robust access to airline and flight information found on a single website anywhere on the Internet. The range of services includes:

Awards & Upgrades - The easiest way to find an Award ticket or Upgrade in real-time. Simply enter the airline(s) you want to fly, the destination, the date(s) and search.

Flight Alerts - Set up a Flight Alert for up to 20 different queries (flights). If an Award ticket or Upgrade becomes available on any of your queries, ExpertFlyer will notify you.

Seat Alerts - The first automated service that notifies airline passengers when occupied seats become available, including flights that are completely booked.

Mobile Access - Subscribers can access their entire ExpertFlyer account from any web-enabled cell phone or PDA anywhere in the world.        

Source: Travel Daily News Feed

KDS offers automated "Secure Flight" data checking
5 September 2010, 11:00 pm

        KDS, the leading European supplier of integrated travel and expense (T&E) management systems, is taking the worry out of compliance with the US Secure Flight programme.

The programme, developed by the Department of Homeland Security and administered by the Transportation Security Administration, requires airlines to collect and transmit each passenger’s full name, date of birth and gender at least 72 hours before a flight into the US or a US territory.

Relevant KDS customer bookings will therefore be automatically checked for the mandatory passenger data. If present, the data will be sent in the passenger name record with the booking. If the essential data is missing, KDS will block the booking and alert the user for an update.

Yves Weisselberger, chief executive officer of KDS, says: “We’ll be launching this service in October when we unveil the latest version of our market-leading ‘KDS Corporate’ T&E management product. The timing is essential, because from November 1 2010 any airline failing to comply with the Secure Flight programme risks a financial penalty. The passenger in question may well be prevented from flying. That’s why we have rapidly developed this automated compliance check, so that none of our customers will suffer this fate.”

The Secure Flight programme exists to improve the security of US domestic and international commercial air travel through the comprehensive checking of passenger details against terrorist ‘watchlists’.        

Source: Travel Daily News Feed

Delta revitalizing Boeing 747-400 fleet with new interiors
5 September 2010, 11:00 pm

        Delta Air Lines unveiled plans for the complete revitalization of its fleet of Boeing 747-400 aircraft flying primarily from the Tokyo-Narita hub. Between summer 2011 and 2012, Delta will equip each of its 16 747-400s with new fully horizontal flat-bed seats in the BusinessElite cabin and new Economy class seats featuring personal, on-demand entertainment, increased personal space and added under-seat storage.The investments are the latest in Delta’s previously announced plan to invest more than $1 billion in enhanced global products and services through 2013. When complete, Delta will offer full flat-bed seats on more than 100 trans-oceanic aircraft, including all Boeing 777s, 767s and 747s, and will feature personal, in-seat entertainment for both BusinessElite and Economy class customers on all widebody flights.

“The multimillion dollar investment we are making to completely revitalize our trans-oceanic fleet speaks to our strong commitment to the Asian market,” Delta President Ed Bastian said in a press briefing here today. “While we have solidly positioned ourselves as the leading U.S. carrier across the Pacific in terms of flights and destinations, we are now taking steps to enhance the products and services offered across our Asian-Pacific network to position Delta as a leader in in-flight service.”

BusinessElite enhancements

The 747 upgrades will bring substantial changes to both decks of the aircraft’s BusinessElite cabin. The new, custom-designed product will feature 48 horizontal flat-bed seats with direct aisle access at each seat. Window seats will face the window for improved privacy and center seats will be angled toward each other for the convenience of customers traveling together.

The new seat, manufactured by Weber Aircraft LLC, will be 81.7 inches in length and 20.5 inches wide, similar to the flat-bed product currently offered on Delta’s 777-200LR fleet. It also will feature a 120-volt universal power outlet, USB port, personal LED reading lamp and Panasonic’s 15.4 inch personal video monitors with instant access to 250 new and classic movies, premium programming from HBO and Showtime, video games and more than 4,000 digital music tracks.

“The design of our flat-bed product meets customers’ desire for comfortable sleep, direct aisle access and ample storage and work space when they travel on long-haul flights,” Bastian said. “We have had great success from a customer service and business standpoint with flat-bed service since it first rolled out on our 777 fleet, and we expect similar results when customers experience our new trans-Pacific 747 and 767 BusinessElite product beginning next year.”

In the last year, Delta has improved meal service in BusinessElite across the Pacific with the introduction of personal, hand-served entrees, signature dishes created by celebrity chef Michele Bernstein and master sommelier Andrea Robinson, expanded dessert options and improved Japanese meal options created by Delta’s flight kitchen in Tokyo.

Economy class improvements

Customers in Economy class on the 747-400 will benefit from the industry’s first seat designed collaboratively by a seat manufacturer and an in-flight entertainment company, Weber Aircraft and Panasonic Avionics Corporation, to fully incorporate seat and entertainment functionality into one product. Using a nine-inch screen, the new seat’s embedded touch-screen entertainment system will offer each customer access to 250 movie titles, hundreds of television shows, 4,000 digital music tracks, personalized music playlists, more than a dozen interactive games and a USB port to charge iPods and other personal electronic devices.

The new seats offer up to 1.5 inches more personal space and increased under-seat storage through a “slimline” design that more efficiently uses cabin space than the older, heavier seats they replace. The upgraded seats also feature adjustable headrests and deliver environmental benefits through the Panasonic Eco 9i Integrated Smart Monitors that use 30 percent less energy and are 60 percent lighter than entertainment systems installed on other Delta aircraft.

Delta’s 747s are dedicated largely to trans-Pacific and intra-Asia flights to and from the Tokyo-Narita hub, including routes connecting Tokyo to Detroit, Honolulu, Manila, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK and Shanghai.

When reconfigured, the 747s will accommodate 386 customers with 48 BusinessElite seats and 338 Economy class seats.

Delta in Asia

During the last several years, Delta has significantly increased its service across Asia-Pacific, expanding from 222 weekly departures in summer 2006 to 275 in summer 2010. Recently added routes include Tokyo-Narita to New York-JFK and Salt Lake City (June 2009); Shanghai to Detroit (June 2009); Sydney to Los Angeles (July 2009); Osaka to Seattle (June 2010); Beijing to Seattle (June 2010); Seoul-Incheon to Detroit (June 2010); Hong Kong to Detroit (June 2010); Nagoya to Honolulu (December 2010); and Tokyo-Narita to Palau (December 2010).

Delta also has announced plans to begin new nonstop service between Tokyo-Haneda and Detroit and Los Angeles in 2011.

“As the leading U.S. carrier to the region, we are solidly positioned to continue to expand convenience and choice for Asia-originating or Asia-bound travelers in one of the world’s fastest growing travel markets,” Bastian said. “Our history of investment in the region is underscored by our more than 2,300 Pacific-based employees in nine countries and our continued commitment to expansion and product renewal.”

Additionally, Delta continues to expand its alliance relationships across the region with Vietnam Airlines joining the global SkyTeam alliance in June and the announcement that China Eastern Airlines will join the alliance in 2011.        

Source: Travel Daily News Feed

A330-200F deployed to Pakistan for inaugural charter
5 September 2010, 11:00 pm

        The inaugural flight for Etihad Crystal Cargo’s new A330-200 freighter aircraft took place on Saturday, 28 August, and was a special charter carrying medical and humanitarian supplies to Pakistan.The new A330-200F was deployed to Karachi and utilised the aircraft’s capacity to 59 tonnes. The aid was required following heavy monsoon rains which hit Pakistan in late July causing severe flooding to major areas of the country. Etihad worked with UK-based Chapman Freeborn Airchartering specialists on the project. The charter flight began in Billund, Denmark, and flew first to Abu Dhabi and then onto Karachi.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, said: “The UAE and Pakistan have a very close bond and Etihad, the UAE’s national airline, is proud to play a part as Pakistan continues to recover from the devastating flooding.” Shahe Ouzounian, Chapman Freeborn’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are very pleased to be the first charter company and customer to utilise Etihad’s A330-200F. Etihad and Chapman-Freeborn worked together with the client to ensure the aid supplies were delivered successfully to Pakistan, on time and within budget.”

Etihad Crystal Cargo operated relief flights to Haiti following the earthquake that hit the country in January 2010.        

Source: Travel Daily News Feed

Heathrow launches awards to find this year"s must-haves
5 September 2010, 11:00 pm

        Ipods, digital cameras and other gadgets will go head to head with handbags, books and perfume in September, as Heathrow launches its annual search for the most popular travel accessories. Launched to highlight the products that make passengers" journey better and which are available at Heathrow, the annual awards feature more than 140 items shortlisted by a panel of senior industry experts.People can vote at Heathrow using the special voting pods in Terminal 1 and Terminal 5 or by visiting www.heathrowairport.com/vote. Voting will take place during September, and the winners will be announced in early October.

Every person who votes in this year’s Heathrow Travel Product Awards will automatically be entered into an exclusive prize draw with a chance to win a selection of the winning products up to the value of 5,000.

Last year the first Heathrow Travel Product Awards drew more than 23,000 votes with the winning products recognised and promoted in-store.

Malcolm Robertson, communications director at Heathrow, said: “We all have a favourite travel accessory, whether it"s a phone or a bag or simply a good book. Our awards help us better understand what our passengers think will make their journeys better, and we look forward to hearing what they have to say this year."        

Source: Travel Daily News Feed

Emirates brings West Africa closer with launch of new Dakar route
5 September 2010, 11:00 pm

        Emirates has strengthened its links to West Africa with the launch of a new direct service to Dakar. The new route will cut current journey times to Dakar by around the equivalent of an eight hour working day, creating an easy, fast and convenient service for business and leisure travellers.Nigel Page, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Africa & the Americas said: “Today marks a new chapter in air travel between the Middle East and West Africa. No more will passengers travelling to and from Senegal face long detours to Europe or other parts of Africa to reach their final destination.

“Instead, they can enjoy the convenience of a non-stop air link with Dubai, seamless connections to key centres in the Middle East, the Indian Sub-continent, Asia and the Far East through our state-of-the-art Terminal 3, a very competitive baggage allowance and the award-winning in-flight service for which Emirates is renowned."

EK 797 departs Dubai at 0955hrs every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and arrives in Dakar at 1600hrs. EK 798 leaves the Senegalese capital at 1740hrs and gets into Dubai at 0715hrs the following day.

An Airbus A340-300 is being deployed on the route, offering 12 seats in First Class, 42 in Business and 213 in Economy.

On the cargo side, Emirates will be transporting 65 tonnes of goods a week from various points on its global network, including oil industry equipment from the UAE; textiles from Asia, electronics from East Asia and Europe; and a number of products and garments from India.

One of the key imports from Senegal will be seafood, with Emirates SkyCargo expecting to transport up to 3,500 tonnes of seafood a year in the belly-hold of the A340-300. Fresh produce - such as lobster, shrimp and sea bream - will be landing in supermarkets and restaurants throughout the UAE and the rest of the GCC, as well as various destinations across the Emirates network, including Athens, Larnaca, Rome, Milan, Madrid, Paris and Beirut.

The new Dakar route caps an exceptionally busy few months for the airline. Since the start of the summer, Emirates has announced orders for an additional 30 Boeing 777-300ER and 32 A380 aircraft; and placed a US$2.0 billion order for GE90-115B Engines to power the new 777s. With 12 A380 aircraft now in service, Emirates has instated its flagship A380s on its Beijing and Manchester routes, with the latter also commencing today, 1st September.

Mr Page added: “Our new Dakar service is a further demonstration of Emirates’ commitment to investing in and supporting the development of its pan-African footprint.  Not only is the service already paying dividends through the creation of new jobs, such as our first Senegalese cabin crew and sales staff, but it will provide a significant long-term boost to trade and commerce in both the Middle East and West Africa.”

Trade between the UAE and Senegal has climbed from USD 14.2 million (AED 52.1 million) in 2003 to USD 184 million (AED 676 million) in 2009, according to figures from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Dakar is the fifth new route to be launched by Emirates this year. The others are Tokyo, which launched on 28th March, Amsterdam on 1st May, Prague on 1st July and Madrid, on 1st August.

Delegates representing the inaugural flight to Dakar.        

Source: Travel Daily News Feed

Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa joins Stash Hotels rewards programs
5 September 2010, 11:00 pm

        Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa announced its partnership with Stash Hotels Reward Program, a ground breaking loyalty program where members can earn and redeem points for stays at some of the best independent hotels in North America. “We’ve spoken with hundreds of travelers and many said they felt forced to make a frustrating trade-off,” said Jeff Low, founder and CEO. “They can either stay at an independent hotel with a more memorable, personalized guest experience, or check into another big-box hotel - with the same bland room and the same white bed they found in the last city - just so they can earn points. Stash fixes all of that by making it as easy to earn points at an amazing hotel as at a so-so one.”The Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa already has a loyalty program in place and will now give their repeat guests the opportunity to earn points and redeem nights through their partnership with Stash Hotels Rewards. Ed Conway, General Manager at the Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa said, “We love the fact that many of our guests come back year after year. And now, as a result of our partnership with Stash Hotels Rewards, those guests can receive even more value at the Sedona Rouge Hotel        

Source: Travel Daily News Feed

IMEX Frankfurt exit poll reveals American buyers see positive trends in face-to-face meetings
5 September 2010, 11:00 pm

        (http://travelhotelscheap.com/images/upload/Image/MEETINGx510.jpg)

Source: Travel Daily News Feed

Starwood Hotels & Resorts launches its first application for BlackBerry Smartphones
5 September 2010, 11:00 pm

        Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and its award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest program announce the launch of the SPG App for BlackBerry smartphones. To celebrate the launch, SPG will give away 100,000 Starpoints to two lucky members who download and log in to the new application by September 30, 2010. The SPG App is now available on BlackBerry App World or by visiting spg.com/BBapp.“SPG members who use this application with their BlackBerry smartphone have an incredible tool at their fingertips. With its range of useful functions and user-friendly interface, the SPG App invites members to tap into and experience the power of the Starwood Preferred Guest network”

The SPG App makes it easy for BlackBerry smartphone users to browse and make reservations at 1,000 Starwood properties across the globe. Members can also use the new application to manage current reservations, view their Starpoints balance, check on recent account activity, connect with customer service, get directions and maps to their hotel from their current location, and access TheLobby.com - the SPG blog featuring travel trends and tips.

“SPG members who use this application with their BlackBerry smartphone have an incredible tool at their fingertips. With its range of useful functions and user-friendly interface, the SPG App invites members to tap into and experience the power of the Starwood Preferred Guest network,” said David Godsman, Vice President of Global Web Services for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Mobile access is increasingly important for the fast-paced lifestyles of our members and we are committed to providing solutions that enhance their experience while on the go.”

Members who download and log in to the SPG App by September 30, 2010, will be entered for a chance to win 100,000 Starpoints which can be redeemed for Free Nights, Award Flights on over 350 airlines with SPG Flights, VIP access to some of the season’s hottest concerts and once-in-a-lifetime experiences through the SPG Moments online auction and much more. To become a Starwood Preferred Guest member visit SPG.com. Official rules can be found at spg.com/BBsweepsterms.

Global technology and consulting services provider, CSC, was chosen to develop the mobile application for Starwood’s customers that use BlackBerry smartphones. CSC delivered a user friendly application that is also supported across multiple technology platforms.        

Source: Travel Daily News Feed

Lincolnshire Marriott announces new meeting spaces
5 September 2010, 11:00 pm

        Lincolnshire Marriott, a leading Chicago area resort, is proud to announce enticing new fall promotions highlighting their new meeting spaces and dining outlets. The Chicago area resort now features a new M.I Greatroom and upgrades to many of the resort"s most famous and popular features, including the lobby, lounge, grand ballroom and meeting space.These new renovations were completed in late April 2010 and bring new social spaces and meeting areas to guests and meeting attendees at the Lake County Illinois hotel.

MI Greatroom has three zones designed to better meet your needs including Social Business Zone, the Individual Zone and the At Your Service Zone. It"s a comfortable and inviting space where you can be productive- to meet with colleagues to conduct business as well as a place to relax, enjoy food and beverages, and socialize.

Recent additions to the Chicago area resort"s public spaces include upgraded lobby decor and a new day-and-night bar, offering contemporary American cuisine and creative cocktails.

Guests visiting the Chicago area resort this fall will also enjoy the benefit of a new golf promotion, offering up to three rounds of golf for two people, including a sleeve of balls, cart and greens fees, plus breakfast for two at the Fairfield Inn.        

Source: Travel Daily News Feed