Travel News

New Terminal to Open at McCarran Airport

By Paul Riegler
Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport will open its new Terminal 3 later this week. The $2.4 billion, 1.9 million-square foot terminal will allow the airport to handle nearly 5 million more passengers a year.
Features of the new terminal include self-boarding gates, automated aircraft docking systems, and over 1,100 LCD and LED screens that offer passenger and airline information.
All international flights will arrive and depart from the new terminal. Upon the …

Virgin Atlantic to Offer In-Flight Mobile Calls

By Michael Acampora
Virgin Atlantic has announced it will offer in-flight calls, texts, and emails from mobile phones on flights between London and New York aboard its new Airbus A330s.
In-flight calls will cost users $1.56 (£1) a minute, and $0.31 (£0.20) for sending a text message. As bandwidth is limited on board flights, only ten people at a time will be able to use the mobile service.
Mobile phone usage will still be banned …

Japan Airlines and ANA to Add In-Flight Wi-Fi

By Michael Acampora
Japan Airlines has announced it will add JAL Sky Wi-Fi to its flights this summer.
JAL Sky Wi-Fi will be available to passengers in every cabin on select flights. The service will support tablets, laptops, and smartphones.
The service will first be available on Japan Airlines’ Boeing 777-300ER from Tokyo Narita to JFK on alternate days from July 15, and daily from the beginning of August. The carrier will then expand …

Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort Opens in California

By Michael Acampora
The Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa opened in California earlier this week.
The 215-room resort is located on the California coast, across from Ponto Beach in north San Diego County. In-room amenities include 42” TVs, free Wi-Fi, and mini-fridges. The hotel also has eight suites, and also has connecting rooms available. Many of the hotel’s rooms, as well as its meeting spaces, offer views of the Pacific Ocean.
The Hilton Carlsbad’s …

Air France To Open New Lounge and Expand Terminal at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport

By Paul Riegler
On June 28, Air France and Aéroports de Paris will open the new Satellite S4 boarding area at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Satellite S4 will be open to travelers flying with Air France and its SkyTeam partners out of terminal 2E. S4, which can handle 7.8 million passengers per year,,offer a variety of shops, restaurants, and bars. The area will also feature water walls, wooden patios, and plants and trees, …

Avianca, TACA, and Copa Join Star Alliance

By Michael Acampora
Avianca, TACA Airlines, and Copa Airlines have officially joined the Star Alliance.
Avianca and TACA Airlines are among the leading airlines in Central America, and Copa Airlines is Panama’s flag carrier. By joining the Star Alliance, their passengers can now access the 28 carrier network that flies 21,500 flights a day.
The addition of these three carriers to the Star Alliance will make transfers easier throughout Latin America. Travelers will also be …

Omni Austin Hotel Renovates Luxury Suites

By Michael Acampora
Omni Hotels & Resorts has finished a full renovation of the luxury suites at its Omni Austin Hotel.
The renovation updated the hotel’s nearly 400 suites that are located on the top floors and accessed through separate elevators. Rooms now offer hardwood floors, driftwood accents, and barn doors inspired by Texas culture.
As part of the renovations, the Omni Austin Hotel has increased the number of suites to 392, which include 42 …

Wyndham Garden Fallsview Niagara Falls Opens

By Michael Acampora
Wyndham Hotel Group has announced the opening of the Wyndham Garden Fallsview Niagara Falls in Ontario.
Each room in the new 152-room hotel offers 37” flat screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and views of either the city or Niagara River. Hotel amenities include a heated indoor pool and hot tub, 24-hour fitness center, and an arcade. Meeting and event spaces are also provided.
The hotel’s dining options include Perkins Restaurant & Bakery and …

Morgans Hotel Group to Open Two Moroccan Hotels

By Michael Acampora
Morgans Hotel Group, a New York-based hotel management company, has announced it will open two locations in Marrakesh, Morocco within the next year.
The first property, Delano Marrakesh, will open in September, and offer 73 suites. The boutique hotel will have a spa, three private pools, and an underground nightclub. Delano Marrakesh will also feature a roof deck, and French and Italian restaurants.
The second property, Mondrian Marrakesh, will offer 69 rooms …

Dallas/Fort Worth Adds CLEAR Security Lines

By Paul Riegler
Next week Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport will add CLEAR, a biometric ID security program, to its Terminal E.
CLEAR is a members-only program that allows travelers to quickly get through security lines by simply using their fingerprint for identification. Membership is $179 for a year of unlimited usage. A Family Plan is available that adds spouses/significant others to the membership for an additional $50. Children under 18 can use the CLEAR …

KLM Operates Longest Ever Biofuel Flight

By Michael Acampora
KLM operated the longest ever biofuel flight on June 20, flying a Boeing 777-200 from Amsterdam to Rio de Janeiro. In 2011, KLM also operated the first-ever commercial biofuel flight.
The 777-200 is partly fueled by sustainable fuel derived from used cooking oil. The carrier plans to operate some of their flights on this fuel, and plans to partner with other companies to expand the program.
The biofuel that KLM is using for …

Sheraton New Orleans Hotel to Undergo Renovations

By Michael Acampora
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts announced that its New Orleans property will undergo a $45 million renovation, to be completed by next year.
Each of the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel’s 1,100 rooms will be completely refurbished, as will the Sheraton Club Lounge, lobby, and meeting facilities. Rooms will feature large work desks, high-speed Internet, LCD TVs, and Sheraton Sweet Sleeper beds.
The renovated lobby will feature a Link@Sheraton business/social hub, as well as …

DoubleTree Reopens North Carolina Hotel, Plans for Malaysian Location

By Michael Acampora
Hilton has announced the reopening of the DoubleTree by Hilton New Bern Riverfront in North Carolina and plans to open a new location in Malaysia in 2014.
The DoubleTree by Hilton New Bern Riverfront reopened this month after closing in August 2011 following damage from Hurricane Irene. The full renovation of the hotel’s 171 rooms includes free in-room Wi-Fi, 37” HDTVs, and Wolfgang Puck coffee and tea. Suites offer a sitting …

United Adds Daily Nonstop Newark-Istanbul Route

By Michael Acampora
United Airlines has added its first route to Turkey with daily nonstop service between Newark Liberty International Airport and Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport.
The departing flight will leave Newark daily at 7:27 p.m. and arrive in Istanbul at 12:20 p.m. the next day. The return flight will leave Istanbul at 1:55 p.m. and arrive at Newark at 6:02 p.m. the same day.
The route will first be operated aboard a standard Boeing …

Delta to Add Wi-Fi to International Flights

By Michael Acampora
Delta has announced that it will add in-flight Wi-Fi to its international fleet of 150 aircraft beginning early next year.
Delta will partner with Gogo Inflight Internet to use Ku-band capacity satellites to compliment existing air-to-ground capabilities already used on domestic flights to provide the service. The in-flight Internet will be available on Delta’s Boeing 777s, 767s, 747s, 757s, and Airbus 330s.
Delta currently operates the largest Wi-Fi equipped fleet in the …

United Adds TSA PreCheck at Chicago O’Hare

By Michael Acampora
United Airlines has launched the TSA’s PreCheck program at Chicago O’Hare’s Terminal 1.
TSA PreCheck allows customers to travel through expedited security lines after enrolling in the program and volunteering information. Participating travelers can leave on their shoes, light outerwear, and belts, and keep 3-1-1 compliant liquids and gels in their carry-on bags.
TSA determines member eligibility, working alongside United Airlines and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
MileagePlus members who participate in TSA …

South African Airways Adds Routes to Ivory Coast and Republic of Congo

By Michael Acampora
South African Airways has announced it will add two new routes, to Abidjan, Ivory Coast and Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
On August 17, the carrier will launch the Abidjan route as an extension of its Accra, Ghana flights on Tuesdays and Fridays. South African will also fly between Accra and Abidjan in both directions. The Abidjan route will be operated aboard Airbus A330-200 aircraft. Abidjan is the Ivory Coast’s economic capital, …

Google Offers and Boingo Bring Free Wi-Fi to NYC

By Cody Burke
Boingo Wireless announced that it is partnering with Google Offers to provide free Wi-Fi in six Manhattan subway stations and at over 200 existing Boingo Hotzones.
The New York City Wi-Fi hotspots are available free for use from June 25 through September 7. Subway stations with coverage include the A, C, E, and L stations at Eighth Ave and West 14th Street; the C and E stations at Eighth Ave and …

Toyota Announces 2013 Avalon Hybrid

By Michael Acampora
Toyota has announced that its 2013 Avalon will be offered in both Hybrid Synergy drive and V6 gasoline models.
The Avalon hybrid will feature an EPA-rating of 40 mpg combined (40 city/ 39 highway), and will be the first full hybrid in the premium mid-size market. The hybrid features a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine and a 244.8-volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The vehicle can output 200 horsepower, and can operate in …

New Terminal to Open at McCarran Airport

By Paul Riegler
Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport will open its new Terminal 3 later this week. The $2.4 billion, 1.9 million-square foot terminal will allow the airport to handle nearly 5 million more passengers a year.
Features of the new terminal include self-boarding gates, automated aircraft docking systems, and over 1,100 LCD and LED screens that offer passenger and airline information.
All international flights will arrive and depart from the new terminal. Upon the …

Virgin Atlantic to Offer In-Flight Mobile Calls

By Michael Acampora
Virgin Atlantic has announced it will offer in-flight calls, texts, and email from mobile phones on flights between London and New York aboard its new Airbus A330s.
In-flight calls will cost users $1.56 (£1) a minute, and $0.31 (£0.20) for sending a text message. As bandwidth is limited onboard flights, only ten people at a time will be able to use the mobile service.
Mobile phone usage will still be banned during …

Japan Airlines and ANA to Add In-Flight Wi-Fi

By Michael Acampora
Japan Airlines has announced it will offer JAL Sky Wi-Fi on its flights this summer.
JAL Sky Wi-Fi will be available to passengers in every cabin on select flights. The service will support tablets, laptops, and smartphones.
The service will first be available on Japan Airlines’ Boeing 777-300ER from Tokyo Narita to JFK on alternate days from July 15, and daily starting in early August. The carrier will then expand the …

Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort Opens in California

By Michael Acampora
The Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa opened in California earlier this week.
The 215-room resort is located on the California coast, across from Ponto Beach in north San Diego County. In-room amenities include 42” TVs, free Wi-Fi, and mini-fridges. The hotel also has eight suites, and also has connecting rooms available. Many of the hotel’s rooms, as well as its meeting spaces, offer views of the Pacific Ocean.
The Hilton Carlsbad’s …

Air France To Open New Lounge and Expand Terminal at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport

By Paul Riegler
On June 28, Air France and Aéroports de Paris will open the new Satellite S4 boarding area at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Satellite S4 will be open to travelers flying with Air France and its SkyTeam partners out of terminal 2E. S4, which can handle 7.8 million passengers per year, offer a variety of shops, restaurants, and bars. The area will also feature water walls, woode

http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...eo-horton-says

Anybody but Useless Air.

Cheers

Originally Posted by X3 Skier

http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...eo-horton-says

Anybody but Useless Air.

"May" merge is perhaps a bit of an overstatement but I think the company has an obligation to review options, if for no other reason than keeping the creditors happy.

Westin Portland Harborview to Open in Maine

By Michael Acampora
Starwood will reopen the Eastland Park Hotel in Portland, Maine as the Westin Portland Harborview next spring, following a $40 million renovation.
The hotel, which first opened in 1927, will be fully stripped down and renovated to include the signature Westin services and comforts. The 289 rooms will feature Westin Heavenly beds, the brand’s line of bathroom amenities, and high speed Wi-Fi.
The Westin Portland Harborview will also offer guests the brand’s …

US Airways Launches Routes to Five Cities from Reagan National

By Paul Riegler
US Airways launched non-stop routes today from Washington D.C.’s Reagan National Airport to five cities: Augusta, Georgia; Minneapolis, Fayetteville, Arkansas; Montreal, and Toronto.
The carrier also adjusted the schedule for its daily, non-stop service between Reagan National and San Diego that started last month. The flight now departs Washington at 8:55 a.m., and San Diego at 12:30 p.m., aboard an Airbus A320.
In honor of the additional flights from Reagan National, US …

American, Boeing, and the FAA Partner on ecoDemonstrator Plane

By Michael Acampora
American Airlines, Boeing, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have partnered to construct a Next Generation 737-800 outfitted with new environmentally friendly technologies called the ecoDemonstrator.
The ecoDemonstrator will soon begin flight-testing in Montana, with the hopes of finding new ways to apply more fuel efficient, sustainable technologies to commercial flight.
The FAA is participating in the program by providing funding for some of the new technologies through the Continuous Lower …

Alaska Airlines Adds Seattle-Fort Lauderdale Route

By Michael Acampora
Alaska Airlines has added a new daily, nonstop route between Seattle and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The eastbound flight will leave Seattle at 10:10 p.m. and arrive in Fort Lauderdale at 6:55 p.m. The westbound flight will depart Fort Lauderdale at 8:10 a.m. and arrive in Seattle at 11:25 a.m. The fight is being operated aboard Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which seat 16 passengers in first class, and 141 in the main cabin.
With …

Hyatt Restaurants Add New Dining Options for Children

By Michael Acampora
Hyatt has announced a new menu, “For Kids By Kids”, which offers nutritious, fresh dining option for children. The menu was developed with Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA). Hyatt is also offering a three-course organic meal for children designed by chef Alice Waters.
As its name suggests, the “For Kids By Kids” menu was developed with input from children, who sampled and approved the food. The menu items also include …

Waldorf Astoria Launches Personal Concierge Program

By Paul Riegler
Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts has launched a new concierge service called True Waldorf Service offers personal concierges to guests.
Personal concierges will be assigned to each guest to assist them before, during, and after their stay. Concierges will help guests with selecting dining options, arranging transportation, and other needs they might have.
Concierges will send guests personalized emails before they arrive to assist them with any requests or arrangements they may …

Air China Adds Fast Track to Rome and Milan Airports

By Michael Acampora
Air China has added “Fast Track” immigration services to the Rome and Milan airports.
The service is available to first- and business-class passengers and PhoenixMiles Platinum members on Rome-Beijing flights operated by Air China, and first- and business-class travelers on Air China’s Milan-Beijing/Shanghai flights.
Air China’s Fast Track service, which allows travelers to avoid immigration clearance lines, is now available in six cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Paris, Tokyo, Rome, and Milan.
Numerous airports …

DoubleTree by Hilton Los Angeles Downtown Opens

By Paul Riegler
Hilton Worldwide has opened the DoubleTree by Hilton Los Angeles Downtown, after purchasing and renovating the former Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens.
The hotel’s 434 rooms were all fully renovated, as were the public spaces, hallways, and meeting and event spaces. Rooms now feature Sweet Dreams beds, 42” LCD TVs, and high speed Internet. In-room amenities include bath and body products from Crabtree & Evelyn Citron.
The new hotel’s signature feature, a …

American Airlines Adds Flights Between the U.S. and Brazil

By Michael Acampora
American Airlines has announced that it will launch 17 additional routes between the U.S. and Brazil beginning this fall.
Starting October 1, the carrier will add a second daily flight between JFK and Sao Paulo. On November 15, American will also convert its one-stop Miami to Salvador flight to a non-stop flight five days per week, as well as add a non-stop Miami-Recife flight. In addition, on December 15, American will …

United to Upgrade P.S. Fleet with Faster Gogo Wi-Fi

By Michael Acampora
United Airlines and Gogo will upgrade in-flight Internet service on the carrier's p.s. (Premium Service) fleet with faster, ATG-4 connectivity.
Gogo will begin installing the ATG-4 technology early next year.
ATG-4 will increase peak Internet speeds on the aircraft from up to 3.1 Mbps to up to 9.8 Mbps. The new technology achieves these speeds through the use of an additional directional antenna, a dual modem, and EV-DO Rev. B technology.
United's p.s. ….

Tokyo Station Hotel to Reopen in October

By Paul Riegler
The Tokyo Station Hotel has announced it will reopen on October 3, and is currently taking room reservations.
The Tokyo Station Hotel is located in the city's Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building, and offers 150 rooms. The Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building is designated as an Important Cultural Asset of Japan. The redesign offers higher ceilings, and tall windows.
The renovated hotel features six types of rooms: Classic (opposite the Imperial Palace grounds), Palace ….

Alma Restaurant to Open at Casa San Agustin in Colombia

By Michael Acampora
Casa San Agustin, a luxury boutique hotel in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia will open a new restaurant, Alma, this September.
The restaurant will be headed by chef Hector Aguilar Valle, and offer coastal Colombian cuisine. Chef Hector Aguilar Valle will combine the Colombian cuisine with Australasian, Cambodian, Thai, and Indonesian influences.
Alma will be located near the hotel's ancient aqueduct and walls, and offer formal indoor seating with a full menu, as ….

Courtyard Maui Kahului Airport Opens

By Michael Acampora
Marriott has opened a new hotel in Hawaii, the Courtyard Maui Kahului Airport.
The Courtyard Maui Kahului Airport features 134 rooms and four extended stay suites, and all rooms offer free Wi-Fi.
The hotel features a business-style lobby, meeting spaces, an outdoor swimming pool, and a 24-hour gym. Dining options include The Bistro restaurant, a lounge and bar, and The Market which sells refreshments 24/7.
The hotel's lobby has welcome podiums instead of ….

T-Mobile Launches Open Europe Business Traveler Plan

By Paul Riegler
T-Mobile USA announced T-Mobile Open Europe, a a flat-rate data plan for intended for business travelers. The new offering will be available starting in August.
T-Mobile Open Europe offers unlimited data at $50 per line, per month, with no roaming fees. The first 500 MB of data are at full speed, after which the service may be throttled.
The service will be available in 28 European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, ….

United Continental Pilots Vote to Strike

By Paul Riegler
Pilots at United Continental voted almost unanimously to approve a strike. Almost 94% of the membership of the pilots union took part in the vote and 99% voted to withdraw their services if required.
The pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association union and a strike must also be authorized by federal mediators.
United and Continental merged in 2010 but the pilots, despite two years of negotiations, are not yet ….

JAL Reveals New First, Business, Economy Seats for 777-300ER Fleet

By Jesse Sokolow
Japan Airlines announced it will install brand new seats in first and business class as well as in its main cabin and premium economy sections in its fleet of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The new seats and interior will debut in January 2013, on JAL’s flights between Tokyo (Narita) and London (Heathrow).
JAL will retrofit 13 777-300ER aircraft with the new seats and will use the aircraft on flights to New York’s …

Ethiopian Airlines Receives New Boeing 787 Dreamliner

By Jesse Sokolow
Ethiopian Airlines took delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner earlier this week. The Boeing 787 is one of the world’s most technologically advanced aircraft, with numerous system, engine and aerodynamic advancements, and is constructed entirely of light-weight composites.
The 787 is the first mid-sized airplane capable of flying long-range routes, resulting in the ability for airlines to open new routes, including non-stop flights. “We have been waiting for this airplane …

Judge Denies AA Request to Cancel Pilots’ Contract

By Paul Riegler
American Airlines cannot scrap its existing contract with the pilots’ union and impose far more draconian terms, following a ruling set forth by Judge Sean Lane of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
The ruling was a rare exception to normal Chapter 11 proceedings, where the courts have traditionally allowed companies to abogate labor contracts and impose terms under court supervision.
In his ruling, Judge Lane wrote …

Qatar Airways to Launch Doha-Chicago Route

By Michael Acampora
Qatar Airways has announced it will launch a new route between Doha and Chicago O’Hare on April 10, 2013.
The 15 hour flight will be operated aboard Boeing 777-300 Extended Range aircraft which feature 335 seats in a two-class configuration (42 business class and 293 economy).
The U.S.-bound flight will depart Doha daily at 9:15 a.m., and arrive in Chicago at 3:50 p.m. The Qatar-bound flight will leave Chicago at 9:30 p.m., …

Southwest Adds Routes to Akron-Canton and Dayton

By Paul Riegler
Southwest Airlines has launched new routes to Ohio’s Akron-Canton Airport and Dayton International Airport.
From Akron-Canton, Southwest now offers two daily, round-trip flights to Chicago midway, and one daily round-trip flight to Denver. From Dayton, the carrier now flies a daily route to Denver.
The new flights will complement AirTran’s current service to these cities, which will all eventually convert to Southwest flights as the two brands fully integrate. AirTran currently flies …

Intel and W Hotels Partner to Sponsor Film Competition

By Dan Collins
California chipmaker Intel and New York-based W Hotels International announced the Four Stories short film competition. The new competition asks amateur filmmakers to submit original screenplays that take place in W Hotels properties and demonstrate the use of Intel’s Ultrabooks while traveling.
Four Stories is part of Intel’s Ultrabook Experience program which features innovative and creative uses for the ultra portable notebooks running on Intel’s Ultrabook chipsets. The Ultrabook Experience campaign …

United Announces Initial International Routes for Boeing 787 Dreamliner

By Jesse Sokolow
United Airlines announced the first international routes for its soon-to-arrive Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. United will now offer nonstop 787 service between its Houston hub and Lagos, Nigeria, five days a week, beginning on January 7, 2013. Daily nonstop 787 service will also be offered between United’s Los Angeles hub and Tokyo Narita, beginning on January 3, 2013, and Los Angeles and Shanghai, beginning on March 30, 2013. These routes …

Starwood Announces Plans to Expand Throughout Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States

By Jesse Sokolow
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced plans to expand its hotel portfolio throughout Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States over the next three years. During this time, Starwood will more than double its portfolio in the region with the addition of seven new hotels, including the new Aloft St. Petersburg, the first of the Aloft brand to be opened in Russia.
Also opening in the region will be the Sheraton …

Google Offers Expands Boingo Wi-Fi Hotspot Sponsorship Across U.S.

By Cody Burke
Boingo announced that Google Offers has expanded its sponsorship of free and discounted Boingo Wi-Fi hotspots to 24 locations across the country. The sponsorship previously covered six NYC subway stations and over 200 Manhattan locations.
The new sponsored hotspots are located at select shopping malls in cities that include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Tampa, where shoppers will have access to complimentary Wi-Fi. Travelers at 16 U.S. airports that include …

British Airways Announces New Flights from London to Colombo, Sri Lanka

By Jesse Sokolow
Next year, British Airways will launch a new route from London Gatwick to the capital city of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The new route will use a Boeing 777 and be operated three times a week. The Boeing 777 contains three cabins, including Club World and its fully flat beds.
Flights will take just over 12 and a half hours and will operate through Male in the Maldives. Tickets are now …

United Airlines’ First 787 Dreamliner Completes First Production Flight

By Jesse Sokolow
Boeing pilots completed the inagural production flight of United Airlines’ first 787 Dreamliner in the airspace over the Seattle, Washington area. The aircraft took off from Boeing’s Paine Field in Everett, Washington, and circled the Seattle area for over three hours, during which time the aircraft’s controls and systems were tested at both high and medium altitudes. Backup and safety elements, including cabin pressurization, avionics, navigation, and communications systems were …

American Eagle Adds Service Between Dallas and Puebla, Mexico

By Paul Riegler
Beginning this fall, American Eagle will offer daily round-trip jet service between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Hermano Serdan International Airport (PBC) in Puebla, Mexico. American Eagle is the regional affiliate of American Airlines, and will be operating one daily round trip flight between the two cities.
Service is scheduled to begin on November 15, 2012, with Flight 3204 departing from Puebla at 7:00 a.m., and arriving at Dallas/Fort Worth …



Hyatt Hotels Announces Opening of Hyatt Regency Chongqing

By Jesse Sokolow
Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the opening of its new hotel, the Hyatt Regency Chongqing, in the Southwest Chinese city of Chongqing. Located in the new central business district of Jiangbei and within the shopping area of Bei Cheng Tian Jie, known as Paradise Walk, the Hyatt Regency Chongqing is part of a new development that combines high-end offices and luxury shopping with various dining and entertainment experiences.
The hotel contains 321 guestrooms …

Four Seasons Returns to its Birthplace with the Opening of Four Seasons Toronto

By Jesse Sokolow
On October 5, 2012, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts will open the doors of its newest 259-room hotel in Toronto. The company got its start in Toronto with a single motor hotel more than 50 years ago.
Located in the heart of Yorkville, the hotel is a short walk from restaurants, galleries, Bloor Street shopping, and numerous museums. With a 55-story main tower and 26-story residential tower, it consists of 217 …

Residence Inn at Tysons Corner Gets Makeover

By Jesse Sokolow
The Residence Inn at Tysons Corner in Vienna, Virginia, recently completed a series of renovations. Included in the work were a new complimentary high-sped internet system, new flat-screen TVs, LEEDS-certified energy-efficient appliances in each room, and more and conveniently located electrical outlets. Other major improvements included a remodeled breakfast area and an updated 24-hour fitness center.
The Residence Inn is comprised of 12 separate villa-style buildings surrounding an outdoor pool and …

Strategic Hotels Acquires Essex House, Will Rebrand as JW Marriott

By Jesse Sokolow
Strategic Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to acquire the Essex House Hotel in New York City from the Dubai Investment Group and will rebrand it as the JW Marriott Essex House. For the roughly $362.3 million it will spend, it will get 509 hotel rooms, nine condominium units, and the hotel’s cash reserves. The transaction is expected to close by September 7, 2012.
The hotel first opened up in 1931 …

Mayflower Renaissance Announces Opening of New Promenade Ballroom

By Paul Riegler
The Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. announced that its new Promenade Ballroom will open next month. The room will add over 3,000 square feet to the 87-year-old hotel, enough space to accommodate 220 guests for a seated lunch or dinner, 350 for a reception, and 140 for a meeting.
Though originally opened in 1925, The Mayflower is now adding the additional square footage to its frame without affecting the architectural …

American Airlines and Air Tahiti Nui Announce Codeshare Agreement

By Jesse Sokolow
American Airlines and Air Tahiti Nui, Tahiti’s international airline, have announced a bilateral codeshare. The agreement was approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and its conditions state that American can place its code on Air Tahiti Nui flights between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Papeete Faa’s International Airport (PPT). The conditions also allow Air Tahiti Nui to place its code on American flights from Los Angeles to more …

Marriott Announces Opening of Courtyard Santa Barbara Goleta

By Jesse Sokolow
Marriott announced the opening of its newest hotel in Santa Barbara, the Courtyard Santa Barbara Goleta. Both affiliated with and within walking distance of the University of California Santa Barbara, the two-story hotel has 87 rooms and 19 suites. Each room comes equipped with wireless high-speed Internet, a flat-screen TV, and desk with an ergonomic chair and conveniently placed outlets.
The hotel’s Goleta meeting venue consists of two meeting rooms which …

Ritz-Carlton Opens First Hotel in Austria

By Jesse Sokolow
Ritz-Carlton has opened its first hotel in Austria, in the capital city of Vienna. The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna has 202 rooms and is located on the storied Ringstraße, a boulevard that encircles the inner city. The hotel is walking distance of Vienna’s museums, concert halls, and historic buildings.
The interior of the hotel contains decorative mural paintings, intricate wood carvings, and a marble staircase. Dining options include the Dstrikt restaurant, which offers …

Hertz to Buy Dollar Thrifty for $2.3 Billion

By Paul Riegler
Hertz Global Holdings announced it will acquire Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group in a deal valued at roughly $2.3 billion. Hertz is currently the second largest car-rental company in the U.S., while Dollar Thrifty is the third. Enterprise, which owns National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car, is the largest.
The three companies combined will have 75% of the market.
In 2010, Dollar Thrifty’s shareholders rejected Hertz’s bid to purchase the company …

Grand Hyatt Opens in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

By Jesse Sokolow
Hyatt announced the opening of the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur in the Kuala Lumpur City Center in Malaysia.
The hotel offers 370 guestrooms and 42 suites, and is within walking distance of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, the Petronas Twin Towers, the Golden Triangle shopping and entertainment district, and the Pavilion Shopping Center.
The ground-floor lobby of the hotel features commissioned pieces of art, including a gold/bronze sculpture, a crescent-shaped sculpture, and …

Icelandair Picks Anchorage as New Gateway in North America

By Jesse Sokolow
Icelandair announced that Anchorage, Alaska will be its newest gateway in North America, and further announced two new destinations, St. Petersburg, Russia, and Zurich, Switzerland. Non-stop seasonal service between Reykjavík, Iceland and Anchorage will be offered twice a week through mid-September 2013, and will begin on May 15, 2013.
Flights from Iceland to St. Petersburg are set to begin June 1, 2013, with non-stop flights twice a week through September 17, 2013. …

Singapore Airlines Plans $20 Million Revamp of Airport Lounges

By Jesse Sokolow
Singapore Airlines will invest $20 million and has appointed architectural and interior design firm ONG&ONG to develop a new design concept for all of its SilverKris airport lounges worldwide. The SilverKris Lounge at Sydney Airport will be the first to receive the makeover and it will take five years for all the company’s lounges to be updated.
The airline has 15 SilverKris Lounges in various airports around the world, including new …

Aloft and Starwood Announce Opening of Aloft Asheville Downtown

By Paul Riegler
Aloft Hotels, a Starwood brand, announced the opening of its 60th hotel, the Aloft Asheville Downtown, in Asheville, North Carolina. Owned and operated by McKibbon Hotel Group, the new hotel features 115 guest rooms, an outdoor pool, and an observation deck, along with over 1,800 square feet of outdoor meeting space and 649 square feet of indoor meeting space.
The hotel is located in downtown Asheville, and is within walking distance …

Boingo Wireless Updates Wi-Finder Data Tracker for iOS

By Jesse Sokolow
Boingo Wireless introduced a new, updated version of its Wi-Finder app for. New features include a mobile data usage tracker to help iPhone and iPad 3G/4G users save money on cellular data charges by assisting them in staying within their mobile data plan limits. The app shows users how much data has been used on 3G/4G and Wi-Fi.
After automatically tracking cellular and Wi-Fi data usage in megabytes, the app provides …

Qantas Cancels 787 Order, Posts $256 Million Loss

By Dan Collins
Australian flag carrier Qantas has cancelled its initial Dreamliner order and taken a number of measures to restructure and ensure long-term viability. Citing rising fuel costs, labor disputes, and increased competition from Asian carriers in international markets, the airline scrapped its firm order for 35 for Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and the option to purchase 50 more has pushed back two years to 2016.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce calls the …

Lufthansa Flight Attendants to Strike Across Germany Friday, Hundreds of Flights Cancelled

By Dan Collins
Lufthansa’s main flight attendant union, the Unabhängige Flugbegleiter Organisation (UFO), announced plans for a-24 hour strike on Friday, September 7. The strike will impact all 16 German airports served by Lufthansa.
This is the latest and most severe of the flight attendant union’s actions, the first of which cancelled over 300 flights at Frankfurt am Main airport and continued Tuesday at Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin’s Tegel airports, with over 350 cancellations …

Renovated Millennium UN Plaza to Re-open as ONE UN New York

By Dan Collins
Millennium Hotels & Resorts announced that the Millennium UN Plaza will re-open as ONE UN New York on September 24. The property, located at One United Nations Plaza in New York City, will offer 154 newly renovated guest rooms and suites on the 29th to 40th floors of the buildings west tower.
ONE UN New York is the result of a $30 million, nine-month gut-renovation of the Millennium UN Plaza, which …

Delta Announces Opening of New Delta Sky Club at LaGuardia Airport

By Jesse Sokolow
Delta Airlines announced the opening of a new Delta Sky Club in Terminal C at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The new club measures nearly 7,600 square feet, and includes a full wall of windows through which the runway can be seen.
The club is Delta’s third at LaGuardia, and offers amenities such as personalized flight assistance, updated restrooms, satellite TV, and artwork featuring aerial landscapes of the region. The new club …

US Airways Adds New Daily Nonstop Routes to Texas

By Dan Collins
US Airways has added two new daily nonstop routes from Philadelphia to San Antonio and Austin, Texas.
The new routes, utilizing 99-passenger Embraer E190 aircraft, will connect the cities to US Airways’ Philadelphia hub, as well as many of the airline’s international routes.
Passengers leaving from Austin will depart at 7:45 a.m. local time and arrive in Philadelphia at 12:08 p.m., with Austin-bound flights leaving Philadelphia at 5:50 a.m. and arriving at …

DoubleTree by Hilton Expands to Des Moines, Iowa

By Jesse Sokolow
DoubleTree by Hilton announced the opening its first hotel in Iowa, the 100-room DoubleTree by Hilton Des Moines Airport. Formerly a Radisson, the property has undergone renovations in all areas, including updates to the guestrooms such as new carpeting, furniture, bedding, and window treatments, along with granite bathrooms, mini-fridge, desks with ergonomic chairs, and high-definition TVs.
A 24-hour self-service business center can be found in the lobby, which also features modern …

Four Seasons Opens New Hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan

By Dan Collins
Four Seasons announced the opening of their newest property in Baku, Azerbaijan. The hotel features 142 guest rooms and 29 suites, four bars and restaurants, a spa, and over 20,000 square feet (1,865 square meters) of conference and function space.
The Four Seasons Baku is the chain’s 89th property worldwide and first in Azerbaijan. Keeping in line with other Four Seasons properties, the hotel is built in the Beaux-Arts style and …

Lufthansa Flight Attendants Plan Another Strike for Tuesday

By Paul Riegler
Lufthansa is facing another round of strikes starting this coming Tuesday, September 4. The Unabhängige Flugbegleiter Organisation (UFO), the union that represents the majority of Lufthansa’s flight attendants, is planning to strike that day. According to the Lufthansa website, details on the scope of the strike, including which airports and flights will be impacted, will be made public by the union only on very short notice.
Thousands of passengers were left …

Porter Airlines Opens New Passenger Lounge at Newark Liberty

By Jesse Sokolow
Porter Airlines has officially opened its newest passenger lounge, located at Newark Liberty International Airport. Porter lounges are open to every Porter customer, and they feature Wi-Fi Internet access, cold beverages, specialty coffee, and snacks. Newark is Porter’s third destination to offer complimentary lounge access; the other two are Toronto and Ottawa.
The Consulate General of Canada in New York, Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC), and the Port Authority of …

Hotel Paradox Opens in Downtown Santa Cruz

By Dan Collins
BPR Properties announced the opening of the Hotel Paradox in Santa Cruz, California. The new hotel has 164 guest rooms and eight suites.
In keeping with the California rustic motif, the front desk is made from a reclaimed eucalyptus tree and the natural décor continues with reclaimed wood snow fence headboards in each room. An indoor-outdoor bar leads to a pool surrounded by redwood trees and features fire pits and cabanas as well …

Jumeirah at Ethiad Towers Opens New Japanese Restaurant

By Dan Collins
Jumeirah at Ethiad Towers has opened a new Japanese restaurant, Tori No Su, complementing the hotel’s eleven other in-house dining options.
Dining at Tori No Su (Japanese for Birds Nest) is intended as much an experience in Japanese culture as it is fine dining. The menu, designed by Chef Ando offers traditional Japanese cuisine and the restaurant’s live grass walls are intended to signify an emphasis on freshness.
In addition to general …

American Airlines Announces Codeshare with Iberia Express

By Jesse Sokolow
American Airlines and Iberia Express, a subsidiary of Iberia, announced a codeshare agreement.
American will place its code on flights marketed by Iberia and operated by Iberia Express between its Madrid hub and 14 other European destinations.
American AAdvantage members are entitled to both earn and redeem miles for award travel on Iberia Express flights. Tickets for codeshare flights will go on sale September 4, for travel beginning September 10, 2012.
Iberia Express …

Lufthansa Flight Attendants Plan Strike for Friday

By Dan Collins
Lufthansa’s flight attendant union, the Unabhängige Flugbegleiter Organisation (UFO), is planning a series of strikes starting August 31. In the event of a labor action, passengers flying on Lufthansa will face travel disruptions starting Friday and union leaders say these may persist for quite some time.
Talks between the German flag carrier Deutsche Lufthansa and the UFO collapsed Wednesday after Lufthansa refused to meet the months-old demand of a 5% pay …

United Announces Domestic Routes for New Dreamliners

By Jesse Sokolow
United Airlines announced the first routes for its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The initial routes are domestic and the new planes will start flying in November of 2012 from United’s Houston hub. Destinations will include Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Newark, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington (Dulles).
These domestic routes will precede United’s 787***8242;s previously-announced international routes, LINK , which are set to begin in December and January.
Following United’s taking delivery of …

Gogo to Provide Coverage Over Canada

By Jesse Sokolow
Gogo announced that it will begin serving passengers on commercial and business aircraft flying over Canada with in-flight Internet access, beginning next year. Cell site construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year, and the network is scheduled to be in operation by the end of 2013.
The network will focus primarily on Canadian routes which are already being served by Gogo’s existing U.S. and Canadian commercial …

United Airlines Network Outage Snarls Air Traffic

By Dan Collins
United Airlines suffered a computer network outage that snarled air traffic across the country and left tens of thousands of passengers stranded on airplanes that were not taking off and also caused very long lines in airport terminals.
A malfunctioning reservation system prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a ground stop on all United Airlines flights this afternoon. Flights were prevented from taking off or landing from approximately 3:20 p.m. EDT …