In this edition of the Travel News Brief: The new BTN Corporate Travel Index, new airline flight services, UK opens ePassport gates, information on Real ID, a guide to TSA Pre-check renewal, driverless taxis in 2020, new hotel properties, traveler tips, graduating to managed travel in higher education and much more!
Graduating to Managed Travel in Higher Education
If you don’t work with higher education institutions frequently, you might not realize this: Universities are complex and dynamic institutions, constantly changing and have specific travel program needs. Read More
Two in Three Travel Programmes Impacted by Data Breaches
Buying Business Travel — Nearly 70 per cent of travel buyers say their travellers have been affected by a payment-related data breach from an outside vendor such as an airline, hotel or retailer in the past year, according to research from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) in partnership with AirPlus International. Read More
BTN's Corporate Travel Index
Business Travel News — BTN provides business travel per diems for 100 U.S. cities and 100 non-U.S. cities, breaking down hotel costs by five hotel tiers in each city, digging into three meals a day, and laying out car rental costs in the U.S. and taxi rides for non-U.S. cities. This year, BTN adds travel risk scores for each city. Plus, analysis of and forecasts for prices in each the U.S., the Americas, Asia/Pacific and EMEA. Read More
Delta Will Return to India in December
Business Travel News — On Dec. 22, Delta will begin daily nonstop service between Mumbai and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Delta suspended service to Mumbai in 2009 amid growing competition from Middle Eastern carriers. Read More
Boeing MAX Return to Service Must Be Done Right Says United CEO
Travel Pulse — During a discussion with Bloomberg, United CEO Oscar Munoz said the plane should not be returned to service until all airlines using it are able to fly it “safely and uniformly.’ Read More
United Adds More Daily Service Between Chicago and Columbia, MO
KOMU-TV (University of Missouri) — United Airlines has added a third daily flight between Missouri's Columbia Regional Airport and Chicago. The airline said "consumer demand" prompted the increased service. Read More
These 3 Factors Will Likely Keep Airfares Low in 2019
The Points Guy — Aviation economists say there are three factors outside of airlines’ control that help determine the cost of your ticket. And fortunately, all three are predicted to hold airfares at relatively low prices in the US for 2019. Read More
United Airlines' New Livery Debut is a Turning Point for the Carrier
The Business Journals Chicago — United Airlines wasn’t kidding when a spokeswoman for the airline noted last Friday that the unveiling of the carrier’s new livery on Wednesday will come with more than a little “pomp and circumstance.” Read More
Delta Air Lines Restarting Mumbai Flights
Travel Mole — New York JFK service expected to begin in December...Read More
Washington National Set to Open First Piece of $1B Expansion
FlightGlobal — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia was set to open a section of new apron this week. The airport is building a new regional concourse, part of a larger $1 billion project to improve the airport and connect the concourses behind security. Read More
New TSA Screening Equipment "Sees" Too Much
Travel Pulse — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was testing a new body scanner system to screen passengers at U.S. airports, but it seems the system was too revealing. Read More
U.K. to Open ePassport Gates to U.S. Citizens
Frequent Business Traveler — The United Kingdom announced plans to allow travelers from seven countries, including the United States and Canada, to use ePassport gates, or e-gates, when arriving at the country’s airports starting in June of this year. Read More
Travellers to Turkey Told to Print E-Visas or Face Being Turned Away at the Gate
The Telegraph — Those with trips booked to Turkey this summer have been told they must carry paper copies of their electronic visas or risk being turned away at the departure gate. Read More
Here’s What You Need to Know About the Upcoming REAL ID Deadline
Travel Market Report — Starting in October 2020, to travel domestically, every traveler will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or an approved ID card or passport. Read More
A Guide to TSA PreCheck Renewal
Smarter Travel — Here's all you need to know to renew your expedited-security membership. Read More
Qatar Airways Joins Precheck
Business Travel News — Qatar Airways has joined the U.S. Transportation Security Administration's Precheck program. Read More
Government Travel Warnings & Alerts
U.S. Department of State — Information on current government issued travel warnings and alerts. Read More
Uber Remains the Most-Expensed Brand, While Lyft's Price Has Leapfrogged Uber's
Business Travel News — After ranking as Certify's most-expensed brand for North American businesses in 2018, Uber maintained the top spot during the first quarter of 2019, according to the expense management provider's latest SpendSmart report. Read More
San Francisco Airport to Deploy Electric Bus Fleet
Frequent Business Traveler — San Francisco International Airport has purchased six 18-battery Catalyst E2 electric buses to transport passengers between terminals and to parking garages. The new buses will replace older, less fuel-efficient buses. Read More
Tesla Plans to Launch Driverless Taxi Service in 2020
Hotel Marketing — Tesla says that next year, it’ll leverage a fraction of the millions of Tesla cars on the road to launch an autonomous taxi service powered by its Autopilot software. Read More
Choice Hotels Unveils New Midscale Brand Logos
Travel Mole — Quality Inn, Clarion, Sleep Inn, and MainStay Suites get a refresh…Read More
Hyatt Adds Milan and Venice Properties
Business Traveller — Hyatt has debuted its Centric brand in Italy, with the addition of two rebranded properties in Milan and Venice. Read More
Wyndham Completes La Quinta Integration & Revenue Increases 55 Percent
Business Travel News — Wyndham Hotels & Resorts reported year-over-year revenue gains of 55 percent, to $468 million, during the first quarter. 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
Marriott Plans Expansion in Mexico
Travel Market Report — The global hotel brand expects to expand its footprint in Mexico by more than 50 percent, by the end of 2023. Read More
Hilton Expands Canopy Brand with Five New Openings
Travel Market Report — Canopy hotels will debut in France, Paris, Venice, Maine, and Washington, D.C., over the next two years. Read More
Four Seasons Unveils Plans for New Custom Private Jet for 2021
Insider Travel Report — Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts announced plans for an all-new Four Seasons Private Jet that it says will evoke the bygone glamour of air travel coupled with thoughtful, guest-centric design. Read More
Experts Warn Summer Travelers to Be Wary Of Measles
Travel Pulse — The measles outbreak is at a 25-year high in the U.S. Read More
Flight Attendants Reveal All the Places You Don’t Want to Touch on a Plane
InStyle Magazine — Flight attendants took to Reddit with answers to the question “What do the passengers *not* know?” The answers varied from surprisingly useful information to TMI. Read More
U.S. Imposing New, Harsher Restrictions on Americans Traveling to Cuba
Travel Market Report — The latest changes reverse some of the previous policies that helped open up the country to travel by U.S. citizens. Read More
6 Things Tourists Should Never Do in Major Cities
Smarter Travel — These rules of urban behavior apply in nearly every city across the world. Are you guilty of violating them? Read More
Airports and the TSA are Gearing up for the Real ID Deadline. You Should Be, Too
USA Today — If your driver’s license doesn’t have a star in the upper corner of the card, then your license is not Real ID compliant. Read More
Airline Passenger of Size Policies: Will You Be Forced to Buy an Extra Seat?
SmarterTravel — As airlines continue to cram more and more people into each plane, the flying experience gets less comfortable for all passengers—especially as the traveling public grows increasingly overweight. Read More
Choices are Great, but Enough is Enough!
Creative Group — Incentive buyers beware: too many choices are hurting your incentive programs. Read More
Meeting Planning Tip: How to Find Diverse Speakers for Your Meetings
Successful Meetings — Learn a planning strategy that can help you recruit diverse speakers and panelists for your events...Read More
5 Great Meetings Hotels in Nashville
Northstar Meetings Group — Want to see what the Nashville buzz is all about? Here are five hotels that are ready to host your meeting group...Read More
5 Fresh All-Inclusive Resorts for Meeting Groups
Northstar Meetings Group — These all-inclusive resorts offer stress-free experiences for meeting attendees...Read More
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