Business Travel Tips

Aircell, a leading provider of inflight internet, announced it has installed Gogo Inflight Internet on its 1,000th aircraft.

The aircraft, a Delta Air Lines DC-9, will fly today from Detroit. Its passengers will be greeted by Gogo brand ambassadors, and treated to complimentary Gogo Internet access on board.

Aircell says in a press release that “Gogo Inflight Internet is now available on more than 3,800 flights daily, up from just 2,100 at this time last year.  Roughly one-third of all mainline domestic aircraft now offer Gogo’s Inflight Internet service”.

Gogo service provides passengers with full Internet access — browsing the Web; accessing online music and games; sending and receiving e-mail; and connecting to virtual private networks while flying — on any Wi-Fi-equipped laptop or personal electronic device.
(source)

According to the PricewaterhouseCoopers’ U.S. lodging forecast the lodging industry will continue to experience a modest recovery during the last quarter of 2010.
PricewaterhouseCoopers’ forecast is based on an updated macroeconomic forecast from Macroeconomic Advisers, LLC that reflects a deceleration in the growth of the US economy during the remainder of 2010, but an outlook for a return to an above-trend growth in 2011.

The forecast confirms the return of the business segment with business travel that has reduced the gap to just 3.7 percent below 2007 levels — in the first half of 2009 it had fallen 10.6 percent below 2007 performance.

PricewaterhouseCoopers anticipates that the US occupancy rate will increase 2.6 percentage points for 2010, reaching 57.2 percent, thanks to a growing demand and decelerating supply growth. The pricing outlook for the remainder of 2010, and 2011, has improved substantially, resulting in an earlier-than-expected recovery in average daily rate (ADR) during the second half of 2010. This synergistic effect is expected to result in a 4.1 percent increase in revenue per available room (RevPAR) in 2010.

Delta SkyMiles members can earn double miles when they book a Delta, Air France, KLM or Alitalia itinerary that includes a connecting flight on Alaska Airlines.

The ticket must contains both a Delta marketed and operated flight segment (or an Air France, KLM or Alitalia marketed and operated flight segment) and an Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air marketed and operated flight segment.

To participate in this offer, eligible members must register online at delta.com/alaskaoffer and purchase their ticket by November 15, 2010.
Travel Period: between September 15 and November 15, 2010 (travel must be completed by November 15, 2010).

A new iPhone Application has been launched by the luxury hotel chain Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.

The application will provide access to booking, reservations, hotel information, packages, destination recommendations and more.

It provides a quick resource for individual profiles of each of the hotels, complete with photos, room descriptions and restaurant details.

In addition to having the ability to book, modify and cancel reservations at any time, with Fairmont application users can search for packages by theme.
Fairmont application provides users with a wealth of information also including a destination guides — “10best” — which direct guests to the best food, activities and shopping the area has to offer.

The new application is available globally in Apple’s iTunes Store and the iPhone App Store.

Hyatt will launch The Great 10K promotion on September 15.
The promotion that runs through December 15, 2010, allows members to earn 10,000 Hyatt Gold Passport bonus points after every 5 eligible nights at any Hyatt worldwide.

Below the main details of Hyatt’s The Great 10K promotion:
- qualifying dates of the promotion: September 15 – December 15, 2010;
- you have to join Hyatt Gold Passport. If you are a current member, please register to participate (visit goldpassport.com);
- you earn 10,000 Hyatt Gold Passport bonus points after every 5 eligible nights at any Hyatt worldwide (the required nights do not need to be consecutive);
- bonus points can be redeemed anytime — for free nights, upgrades, miles and more — and do not expire;
- you can earn up to 180,000 Hyatt Gold Passport bonus points;
- if you choose Hyatt Gold Passport points for your stay, you will still earn 5 points per eligible dollar spent (you can choose to earn points or miles for your base earning);
- bonus points will be given for one room per member per stay regardless of the number of rooms.

If you need more details about The Great 10K from Hyatt Gold Passport, please call 1-800-30-HYATT (49288) or your nearest Hyatt Worldwide Reservation Centre.