In this edition of the Travel News Brief: join Direct Travel in a webinar focused on “Travel Policy as an Employee Recruitment/Retention Tool,” the latest on Boeing's 737 Max grounding, airlines expand flight service, Delta to cut seat recline on A320s, TSA campaign on REAL ID, travel safety tips, new hotels, tips on tipping the maid, the risks of traveling during hurricane season, 5 ways your TMC can upgrade a VIP’s travel experience and more!
5 Ways Your TMC Can Upgrade a VIP’s Travel Experience
Creating an exceptional VIP experience for your top executives is challenging. From booking travel to proactively monitoring their trips to planning exciting leisure activities to wine and dine clients – it takes time, experience and patience. Read More
Webinar Invite: Travel Policy as an Employee Recruitment/Retention Tool
BTN Group — As labor markets become more competitive, job prospects and current employees are starting to scrutinize key policies – including travel. Join Direct Travel and the BTN Group for a webinar on Thursday, May 2 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT to learn how enhancing your travel policies can differentiate your organization and give you a leading edge in recruiting and retention. Register now
RingCentral Engage Digital Integrates with Google Dialogflow to Enhance Customer Engagement
OA Online — “We’ve currently deployed a beta version of the newly integrated product from RingCentral and we believe that this will be a game changer for us in providing timely and effective customer service to our rapidly growing customer base," said Darryl Hoover, chief technology officer, Direct Travel. Read More
2019's Most Expensive Cities for Business Travel
CNN — Management consultant ECA International has surveyed cities across the globe to work out which will leave travelers struggling to balance the books on the plane home…Read More
United Airlines to launch nonstop flight between North America and Cape Town, South Africa
USA Today — United Airlines plans to begin nonstop flights between Newark, New Jersey, and Cape Town, South Africa, in December. Read More
Southwest, American Airlines Extend Boeing 737 MAX Cancellations into August
Travel Market Report — Air carriers are adjusting schedules for the aircraft to give travelers adequate planning time ahead of a busy summer travel season. Read More
Delta Cuts Seat Recline on Its Entire A320 Fleet
The Points Guy — Delta Air Lines is limiting how far passengers can lean back on some domestic flights, part of what the company says is a test of how to best preserve passengers’ personal space. Read More
Delta Will Return to London Gatwick
Business Travel News — Next year, Delta will return to London's Gatwick Airport for the first time in nearly a decade, with service from Boston and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Read More
American to Expand Operations at Largest Hubs
The Motley Fool — American Airlines is adding flights at its largest hubs, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and North Carolina's Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The carrier plans to offer 905 peak-day departures from DFW by July, up from 809 last year. Read More
United's Summer Schedule Includes 31 New and Returning Flights
Airline Ratings — United Airlines launched its international summer schedule on March 30 with a flight from San Francisco to Amsterdam. The airline is offering a record number of summer flights this year, including 31 new and returning routes. Read More
Virgin Reveals Growth Plans as it Unveils New A350
Travel Mole — Take a look inside the new aircraft…Read More
Delta Tops Long-Running Ranking of U.S. Airlines
Meetings & Conventions — The carrier tops an annual study that ranks airlines by on-time arrivals, complaint rates and other statistical measurements...Read More
US Facial Recognition Will Cover 97 Percent of Departing Airline Passengers Within Four Years
The Verge — The Department of Homeland Security says it expects to use facial recognition technology on 97 percent of departing passengers within the next four years. Read More
TSA Launches Awareness Campaign for New ID Requirements
Travel Market Report — Set in motion by the REAL ID Act, the changes are meant to dramatically enhance and improve commercial aviation security. Read More
10 Travel Safety Tips We Learned from the CIA
Smarter Travel — We got the inside scoop on what to pack, what to plan for, and how to conduct yourself while traveling. Read More
TSA’s New 3D Scanners Will Let Travelers Keep Laptops in Carry-On Bags
Travel Market Report — The new machines, with more advanced technology to detect explosives and other threats, will be phased into select airports this summer. Read More
Vision-Box to Install Facial-Recognition Technology at JFK Airport
Airport Technology — The technology will be implemented at Terminal One, which is home to 26 international carriers such as Lufthansa, Air France, Japan Airlines and Korean Airlines…Read More
Government Travel Warnings & Alerts
U.S. Department of State — Information on current government issued travel warnings and alerts. Read More
Uber Vouchers: Businesses Could Pick Up the Tab for Your Next Trip
Travel Daily News — The Uber for business (“U4B”) team began beta testing Vouchers late last year across a diverse group of retailers, restaurants and services, with over 100 global partners. Read More
Enterprise Partners with Japan's Nippon Rent-A-Car
Auto Rental News — Enterprise Holdings has formed a new partnership with Nippon Rent-A-Car International to expand car rental services in Japan. Read More
Hilton Looks Back on 100 Years
Travel Market Report — With a century of accomplishment under its belt, the brand pushes ahead into a future with a micro-hotel concept and the latest technology for its guests. Read More
Radisson Opening Six New Hotels Across the Americas
Travel Market Report — The signings and conversions reach from the expansive Great Plains to the sunny West Coast and the tropical Caribbean. Read More
Preferred Hotels & Resorts Welcome 25 New Hotels
Insider Travel Report — Preferred Hotels & Resorts announced the addition of 25 new member hotels to its global portfolio between Jan. 1 to March 31, 2019. Read More
W Hotels Signs Second Resort in Bali as Marriott Expands Presence in Asia-Pacific
Travel Market Report — The new hotel is part of Marriott’s larger expansion plans to open 1,000 properties in the region by the end of 2020. Read More
Marriott Opens 7,000th Hotel
Business Traveller (U.K.) — The opening of the St. Regis Hong Kong marks Marriott's 7,000th hotel worldwide…Read More
How Much Should You Tip the Hotel Maid?
Smarter Travel — No doubt scrubbing toilets and tucking perfect sheet corners all day is tip-worthy. We asked an etiquette expert just how much of a tip is appropriate. Read More
Midway Airport is Becoming More Like a Mall, and There’s More to Come
Chicago Tribune (tiered subscription model) — As part of a $75 million concession redevelopment that began in 2017 and is expected to be completed in 2020, Chicago's Midway International Airport is in the process of overhauling its shopping and dining options for the first time in more than 20 years. Read More
What to Do If You Miss a Connecting Flight
Smarter Travel — Here's when your airline is obligated to help you... and when it's not. Read More
5 Tips for Flyers Affected by the Boeing 737 Max Cancellations
USA Today — Here’s some key advice to consider whenever you’re concerned your flight may be altered or canceled, but particularly due to Max groundings. Read More
The Best U.S. Airlines, According to New Study
Travel Market Report — These are the top carriers for handling baggage, leaving on time and keeping passengers satisfied. Read More
Puerto Rico Chosen to Host World Travel & Tourism 2020 Global Summit
Meetings & Conventions — In an enormous win for a destination that has had its share of challenges lately, Puerto Rico has been chosen to host the World Travel and Tourism Council's 2020 Global Summit. Read More
6 Passport Renewal Rules You Need to Know
Smarter Travel — Following these little-known passport rules can help. Read More
10 Ways to Survive a Long-Haul Flight
Smarter Travel — Prevent boredom, dehydration, DVT, sleep deprivation, and more. Read More
LAX Expansion Plans Call for a New Terminal East of Sepulveda Boulevard
Los Angeles Times — Amid Los Angeles' ongoing $14 billion modernization effort, plans released last week indicate that even more investment and expansion is on the way for LAX, including construction of a new terminal. Read More
6 Tips for Gathering Event Feedback
Northstar Meetings Group — Industry pros share ways to encourage attendees to give their opinions during and after a conference…Read More
The Power of (Un)Limited Choice
Creative Group — Implications of too much choice on performance improvement program design…Read More
Las Vegas Convention Center OKs $32M Renovation Contract
Las Vegas Review-Journal — In a unanimous vote Tuesday, the LVCVA's board of directors approved a deal for the renovation of the north, central and south exhibition halls, to finish by the end of 2023...Read More
Looking for guidance on planning your next convention, incentive, or group trip? Direct Travel will assist with all your meetings and event details! Whatever your needs may be when it comes to your event, you can always depend on us to design streamlined travel arrangements, plan strategic meetings, and deliver real-time results. For details, please send a message to: MeetingInquiry@dt.com.