NEWS & NOTES

May 2004

the web works
Do you get e-mail promotions from airlines, hotels, etc.? If so, expect to get even more. A study by the Travel Industry Association found that more than 35 million Internet users have signed up to receive such promotions, and 10 million of them said they have been influenced by an e-mail from a travel supplier to take a trip they weren't planning to take. In 2003, the TIA study found, 42 million individuals booked travel online, an 8 percent increase over 2002. The most common purchase was an air ticket, reported by 75 percent; the biggest increase was in hotel bookings. Some 71 percent of online travel bookers reserved a hotel room in 2003, up from 57 percent in 2002.

airline news

  • JetBlue Airways officials say they expect their fleet to grow to five times its current size over the next few years; in other projections of the airline's future, they also said they want to build new terminal facilities at New York JFK, and perhaps to start flying outside the U.S., initially to the Caribbean
  • Delta is buying another 45 regional jets over the next two years, to be operated by Delta Connection partners SkyWest, Atlantic Southeast and Chautauqua Airlines
  • South African Airways has applied to become a member of the Star Alliance (United, Lufthansa, etc.)
  • ATA Airlines will add a business class cabin to its planes; work should be finished fleet-wide by year's end.

    no frills
    Could this be the future of travel? Low-cost European carrier Ryanair reportedly plans to cut costs for its new 737s by eliminating traditional things like window shades, headrest covers, seat pockets and even seat-recline mechanisms. Another European low-fare specialist, easyJet, has eliminated one of the three lavatories on its 737s, adding an extra seat instead. And easyJet is said to be exploring the start-up of a no-frills cruise line in the Mediterranean where passengers would pay extra for meals and for housekeeping services in their cabins.

    frequent stays

  • Travel giant Cendant Corp. has a new loyalty program called TripRewards (www.triprewards.com; 800-367-8747) that awards points for stays in Cendant hotel chains (Ramada, Travelodge, Super 8, Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Amerihost Inn, Knights Inn, Wingate Inn, Villager), renting from Avis or Budget, or buying things from other program partners. Members can redeem points for hotel stays (with no blackout dates) or for airline miles or rail points
  • Delta SkyMiles members can now earn 2 miles per dollar spent at 350 Red Roof Inns nationwide
  • InterContinental Hotels Group's Priority Club members can now earn points or miles at more than 100 Candlewood Suites properties.

    opening doors

  • Mandarin Oriental Hotels has cut the ribbon on a 400-room luxury hotel in Washington, D.C.; it's in the Portals development project, overlooking the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial
  • Italy's Baglioni Hotels planned a March opening for a new five-star property in London, located in the Kensington district
  • Starwood set a May 15 debut for a new W Hotel in Montreal, located next to the convention center in the new Cite International District
  • A new Sheraton was due to open in Hanoi, Vietnam in March, and another was slated to debut April 30 in Krakow, Poland
  • The former Marriott Bucharest has been upgraded to a JW Marriott.

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