Business Travel Tips

Beginning June 26 guests staying at Hyatt hotels and resorts can receive up to 29% off of the Hyatt Daily Rate.

The promotion is valid for stays at participating Park Hyatt, Andaz, Grand Hyatt, and Hyatt Regency located in key urban and resort destinations worldwide.

The Hyatt offer by region

- United States, Canada and the Caribbean:
guests receive up to 29% off the Hyatt Daily Rate. Rooms must be booked before July 9 or between August 14 and September 3. Stays must be completed between June 26 and October 4, 2009.

- Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and at Park Hyatt and Andaz hotels worldwide:
guests receive up to 20% off the Hyatt Daily Rate. Rooms must be booked before September 3. Stays must be completed between July 3 and September 15, 2009.

Continental Airlines is offering discount flights to India.

To take advantage of the offer, book at continental.com, by June 30.

Here’s a sampling of Continental’s fares to India (fares are round-trip, do not include taxes and fees; specific travel dates apply). 

Chicago, IL (ORD – O’Hare) — Mumbai (Bombay), India (BOM) : $859
New York/Newark, NJ (EWR – Liberty) — Delhi, India (DEL) : $918
New York/Newark, NJ (EWR – Liberty) — Mumbai (Bombay), India (BOM) : $918
Atlanta, GA (ATL) — Mumbai (Bombay), India (BOM) : $947
Cleveland, OH (CLE) — Mumbai (Bombay), India (BOM) : $980
Boston, MA (BOS) — Mumbai (Bombay), India (BOM) : $1010
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) — Mumbai (Bombay), India (BOM) : $1013
Boston, MA (BOS) — Delhi, India (DEL) : $1050
Houston, TX (IAH – Intercontinental) — Mumbai (Bombay), India (BOM) : $1060
Charlotte, NC (CLT) — Mumbai (Bombay), India (BOM) : $1064
Atlanta, GA (ATL) — Delhi, India (DEL) : $1082
New Orleans, LA (MSY) — Delhi, India (DEL) : $1092
Cleveland, OH (CLE) — Delhi, India (DEL) : $1100
Houston, TX (IAH – Intercontinental) — Delhi, India (DEL) : $1100

Find out offer details at continental.com.

Verified Identity Pass, market leader to supply “registered traveler” services through its Clear program, announced it would shut operations at every airport by Monday June 22, 2009.

Clear registered traveler program, for a $200 annual membership fee, enables passengers to benefit of special security lanes, to get faster security checks at airport in the U.S.
With the company went out of business, more than 250,000 frequent fliers lost that privilege. There was no information about whether Clear subscribers would get refunds.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) conceived the Registered Traveler program in the wake of 9/11 attacks, when tightened security led to massive lines in airports, to allow trusted travelers to access designated airport security fast lanes.

Verified Identity Pass had been operating its Clear program in 18 of the 21 airports with reserved security lines.
The company now says it had been unable to negotiate an agreement with its senior creditor to continue operations.

Five Star Alliance member carriers — Austrian, Croatia Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS and TAP, have moved from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 at London’s Heathrow Airport.

As a consequence of this move a new check-in area used by Austrian, Croatia Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa and TAP has opened. A number of self-service check-in kiosks as well as a bag-drop area are also available.

Other airlines include Air New Zealand, Asiana, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, South African Airways, United and US Airways were already operating from Terminal 1.

The American Society of Travel Agents has asked Congress to pass a law to make air travel pricing more transparent.

The trade group said that with airlines continuously adding new fees travelers may find nearly impossible to do the comparative shopping for air travel.

Airlines say that a la carte business model is a necessary way to generate revenue during a time when capacity exceeds demand and also it allowspassengers to customize the level of service they want.