Business Travel Tips

Members of United Airlines‘ loyalty program Mileage Plus can fly between U.S. and Canada this summer for only 20,000 Mileage Plus miles when booking the flight at www.united.com.

That means a 5,000-mile savings.
Booking period: now through June 21, 2009.
Travel period: now through September 2, 2009 (Blackout dates: July 2, 2009 - July 6, 2009).

- Each passenger is responsible for applicable taxes and fees
- Offer valid for travel between the 48 contiguous United States and Canada
- Valid for roundtrip travel in United Economy® on United® and United Express® operated flights
- All other standard Mileage Plus rules and restrictions apply
For full details, please visit this united.com page.

Beginning June 1, American Airlines passengers wanting to buy beverages, snacks and headsets in flight will have to use their debit cards or credit cards.

AA said it will not accept cash on flights within the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Canada.

Dayton Business Journal writes: “Flight attendants will be carrying a hand-held on-board sales recorder to charge passengers who purchase products”.

According to a data released by hospitality research specialist STR Global, U.S. hotel industry reported declines in all three key performance measurements during April 2009.
Comparing year-over-year results, industry’s occupancy was at 56.4% (down by 11.1%), average daily rate at US$98.37 (down by 9.4%), revenue per available room at US$55.48 (down by 19.5%).

Among top 25 hotel markets in the U.S., Detroit, Michigan, was the only market to avoid a decrease in any of the key performance metrics.
Chicago, Illinois, reported the largest decrease in occupancy, which was down 20% to 55.3%.

Three other markets also reported occupancy decreases of less than 5%: New York (-4.7% to 79.7%); Orlando, Florida (-4.3% to 69.9%); and Oahu Island, Hawaii (-1.8% to 70.6%).
Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Virginia, reported the smallest decrease in occupancy, which was down 0.8% to 57.9%.

Coming to revenue per available room, six markets reported decreases of more than 25%: Chicago (-34.5% to US$63.75); New York (-29.0% to US$162.17); Phoenix, Arizona (-28.0% to US$70.64); San Diego (-27.2% to US$79.51); Boston, Massachusetts (-25.5% to US$85.34); and Los Angeles-Long Beach, California (-25.5% to US$71.05).

Members of Carlson Hotels‘ Goldpoints plus loyalty program can easily earn bonus points staying at Carlson hotel brands for three nights or longer between June 1 and August 31, 2009.

The promotion, called 1,000 Points 1,000 Hotels, enables guests to earn 1,000 bonus Gold Points per night, starting with their third night at any of the more than 1,000 Carlson Hotels global locations. They have the opportunity to earn an additional 5,000 bonus points when they stay five or more nights, with maximum earning potential of up to 25,000 bonus points, for 20 nights, during the promotion period.

All five Carlson Hotels Worldwide brands participate in Goldpoints plus, including Regent Hotels & Resorts; Radisson Hotel & Resorts; Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts; Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Inn.

Irish carrier Aer Lingus launched a sale on flights between United States and a number of major European destinations.

Travel period: between June 16 and August 31.

Airfares must be purchased by June 16, 2009.

Below a few examples of each way fares, not including government taxes and fees, on US-originating flights.

From Boston:
- to Madrid from $286
- to London from $246
- to Milan from $286
- to Frankfurt from $286

from Chicago:
- to London from $294
- to Barcelona from $334
- to Paris from $334

from New York:
- to Paris from $286
- to Amsterdam from $286
- to Munich from $286
- to Rome from $336

from Washington:
- to Brussels from $291
- to London from $251

Blackout dates: New York: June 23 - July 3, 2009; Washington: June 28 - July 3 and July 31 - August 7, 2009. Find out details at Aer Lingus sale page.