Business Travel Tips

A report by the United States’ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says that radiation from Full-body scanners using X-rays is extremely low dose and safe for passengers.

The study explains that a passenger would have to be screened 47 times a day for a year from Full-body scanners to exceed annual limits of radiation.

Around half of Full-body scanners at airports use X-rays — backscatter X-ray technology — the other half of the TSA’s screening machines use millimeter-wave technology.

Last November, the European Union banned the use of the X-ray machines because of health concerns.

Beginning March 15, 2012, Hyatt will no longer offer the option to earn miles for stays in four airline programs including Air Canada Aeroplan, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Frontier EarlyReturns and US Airways Dividend Miles.

Also, after March 15, 2012, Hyatt Gold Passport members will no longer be able to convert Hyatt Gold Passport points to miles with these airline programs.

Virgin America is offering a coupon for a 20% discount on a flight booked by March 31, 2012.

Booking must be completed by 11:59pm PDT on March 31, 2012 and you have to fly between April 11 and June 13, 2012.

In order to take advantage of this offer, you have to fill out the form in this page. You’ll receive the coupon code in your email.

The offer ends on February 29 and is valid for the first 35,000 people who to sign up.
The coupon is valid only for nonstop or connecting travel; the offer is not valid for any multi–city itineraries.

STR Global released hotel performance data for January 2012.
The table below shows the three key performance metrics by region, year-on-year comparisons, for January 2012.

Below are highlights of key market performers for January 2012 (year-on-year measurements).

- Americas
Chicago, USA, reported the largest occupancy increase, +15.4% (to 47.4%) followed by Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) which recorded +8.4% (to 82.4%). Panama City, Panama, experienced the largest decrease in occupancy, -15.0% (to 55.4%).

- Asia Pacific
The largest increases in occupancy were recorded in Osaka, Japan, +10.0% (to 74.7%) and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +10.0% (to 69.9%).

- Europe Prague, Czech Republic, +20.2% (to 45.4%), and Vilnius, Lithuania, +18.4% (to 44.9%) were the markets recording the largest occupancy increases. Athens, Greece, posted the largest occupancy decrease, -17.4% (to 36.6%).

- Middle East/Africa
The largest occupancy increase was recorded by Beirut, Lebanon, +32.0% (to 53.4%) followed by Amman, Jordan, +30.8% (to 64.7%), and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, +26.9% (to 74.0%).
Cairo, Egypt, was again the market recording the largest occupancy decrease in the region, -42.4% (to 36.4%).

Etihad Airways will start direct daily service between Washington Dulles and Abu Dhabi. The airline announced it will begin the new service on March 31, 2013, subject to government approval.

Washington, D.C. will be Etihad’s fourth destination in North America — the airline launched Toronto in October 2005, New York in October 2006 and Chicago in September 2009.

The new route will be operated by a three class A340-500 aircraft. Each flight will offer 12 Diamond First class, 28 Pearl Business class and 200 Coral Economy seats.

Etihad says the schedule will allow maximum connectivity to key markets in the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and South East Asia.
The flight schedule for the Washington Dulles – Abu Dhabi service will be as follows:
- flight EY130 departs from Washington Dulles (IAD) at 10.30pm and arrives in Abu Dhabi (AUH) at 8.00pm (the next day);
- flight EY131 departs from Abu Dhabi (AUH) at 10.00am and arrives in Washington Dulles (IAD) at 5.00pm.