Business Travel Tips

According to a research carried out by  Orbitz for Business, 70 percent of business travelers who book online have reported positive experiences in doing so.

The following are some among the other key findings of the Orbitz for Business survey.

- even though the majority of U.S. corporate travelers conduct trips for business purposes primarily within North America (93 percent ), the percentage of those who plan a business travel to China and India increases (12 percent );

- 86 percent of people polled said traveling for business is more stressful than it was two years ago;

- among the top frustrations experienced by business travelers: increasing costs (primarily expensive hotel room), crowded planes, lines and restrictions to comply with the new security rules, flight delays and cancellations.

JetBlue Airways launched a corporate meetings program: CompanyBlue Meetings.
The program will offer discounts and benefits for corporate meetings.

Program restrictions
It is applicable to corporate meetings of at least 15 flyers with the same destination and whose travel is arranged by designated planners with a single company billing source through either JetBlue’s Web site or a dedicated toll-free number.
Travel must be booked at least 60 days before departure; however passenger names and final payment will be required 30 days before the flight.

The Starwood portfolio in Shanghai added 2 new properties, the Sheraton Shanghai Hotel & Residences, Pudong and Four Points by Sheraton Shanghai, Daning.

The Sheraton Shanghai Hotel & Residences is located near to the Shanghai New International Expo Center, in Lujiazui, the financial and trade district in Pudong.
Four Points by Sheraton Shanghai, Daning is located in the Zhabei, north of Shanghai central business district; it is just a few minutes walk to the subway station and within only 15 minutes drive to the Shanghai Bund and Nanjing Road business district.

Starwood which is expected to open 8 new hotels in China within 2007, currently offers in Shanghai a choice of 8 hotels under the brands of St. Regis, Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton and Le Meridien.

Beginning April 8 Delta will add 22 new Delta Connection flights to link four upstate New York cities.

Albany, Massena, Ogdensburg and Watertown will be directly connected to Delta’s gateway at Boston.

This new service will be operated by Delta Connection carrier Big Sky Airlines using 19-seat Beechcraft 1900D aircraft. (
source: Delta press release)

A Courtyard by Marriott hotel will open in 2008 at London Gatwick Airport.

The 218-room Courtyard by Marriott London Gatwick Airport will be located within easy reach of the airport’s South Terminal. Guest transportation will be provided to the South Terminal and complimentary monorail transit will transport travelers to the North Terminal.
The hotel will have direct access to the M23 and surrounding motorway network.

Marriott while recently unveiling in Paris its new prototype for Courtyard hotels in Europe targeting the upper-moderate European travel market, announced to open approximately 50 of these hotels in Europe over the next five years.