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Friday July 30, 2010
Hack Rate
Identity Theft A Major Issue For Hotel Industry
The hotel industry has a big problem with identity theft. An Internet expert says computer hackers steal hotel guests’ credit card data more than any other industry. Hackers have created ever more sophisticated software which can sit undetected on hotel systems and access data, including credit card information. Large hotel chains are investing to fight back.
USA Today
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Numbers Game
Cuba Tourism Up Slightly In First Half
The Cuban government says tourism is rebounding after a 3.4% drop in the first two months of the year. First half figures show arrivals at close to 1.4 million, up 1% from the same period last year. The island nation welcomed 2.4 million tourists in 2009, and revenues from the industry represented 20% of its foreign exchange income.
Reuters
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Tweeting For Dollars
You Can Reach Luxury Market Through Social NetworkingAzamara Club Cruises President Larry Pimentel says social networking is proving to be one of the most powerful channels to deliver personalized marketing messages directly to luxury consumers. Pimentel says the immediacy of social networking channels can make travel professionals the ‘go-to expert’ and help agents efficiently communicate with a large number of clients simultaneously.
Travel Pulse
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Open Jaw News: Hacking & Tweeting
Thursday July 29, 2010
Gonna Be Alright
JTB’s Lynch Says Agents Helped Overcome Jamaica Crisis
Jamaica Tourist Board chairman John Lynch says travel agents played a key role in minimizing the tourism impact of the late May violence in the country’s capital Kingston. Tourism numbers were steady in May and June and Lynch says July has seen an upswing. “Our relationship with agents continues to prove crucial,” Lynch says.
Travel Agent
Climbing Out
Hotels To Seek ‘High Single-Digit’ Corporate Rate Hikes
After a couple of years where buyers had the upper hand, a recovering hotel industry believes demand is strong enough to justify significant hikes on corporate negotiated rates. Both Marriott and Starwood have indicated they will be seeking increases of close to 10%, but the hoteliers say that even if they are successful, rates will still trail 2007 figures.
Management.travel
Doing The Business
CWT Transactions Up 13% In First HalfWith transactions up 13.2% for the first six months of the year compared with the same period in 2009, CWT CEO Doug Anderson says business travel is “back on the corporate agenda.” Anderson acknowledged that traffic has not yet returned to pre-recession levels, but says companies have been reminded of the importance of travel in achieving corporate objectives.
ABTN
Open Jaw News: Positive Vibrations
Wednesday July 28, 2010
Big Picture
Is Agency Distribution Channel Sustainable?
Even the most successful travel agents – those with strong marketing skills, loyal clients and commission-paying suppliers -- have a nagging problem. It’s not about whether an individual agency is successful or not, but whether the agency distribution channel as a whole is a sustainable model.
Travel Market Report
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Checking In
Hotel Guests Are Happier These Days
The 14th annual J.D. Power study of hotel guest satisfaction brings good news to an industry that has gone through tough times. The study found higher guest satisfaction in 2010 compared to 2009 in every hotel segment from luxury to economy. Guests were happier with many aspects of the hotel experience, including costs and fees, reservations processes and guest room quality.
Travel Agent
New Leaf
Enterprise To Add Electric Cars To FleetIt’s only recently that car rental companies have added hybrid vehicles to their fleets. Now Enterprise is becoming the first of the majors to offer fully electric vehicles in some non-airport locations. The company will initially deliver 500 Nissan Leaf vehicles which can travel about 160 km. on a single charge.
Travel Weekly
Open Jaw News: Changing Channels
Tuesday July 27, 2010
Pearlman At The Helm
Jack Mannix Cites Personal Reasons For Ensemble Resignation
Canada’s Lindsay Pearlman will take over the interim reins at Ensemble after the surprise resignation of CEO Jack Mannix. After over eight years of commuting between his home in Florida and Ensemble HQ in New York, Mannix announced his resignation effective immediately, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.
Open Jaw 
You’re Fired!
Want To Boost Profits? Shed Some Clients
If a client wastes so much of your time that there’s no potential for profit, isn’t it time to kick them to the curb? “A travel agent can only take so much grief from a client,” says one agent. “We have to learn when it is time to let them go.”
Travel Market Report
Re-Inn-Vention
A Time Of Transformation For Hyatt HotelsOnce known mostly for its upscale downtown hotels and resorts, the Hyatt Hotels group is transforming itself into a larger, cutting-edge company serving a broader array of travellers. Expansion hasn’t been a big priority for Hyatt, but since the company went public for a second time last year, new brands and innovative ideas have come to the fore.
USA Today
Open Jaw News: So Long, Cheapskate!
Monday July 26, 2010
Following Orders
Most Biz Travellers Will Stick To Policy Over Rewards
Loyalty programs are very important to corporate travellers who no longer view the travel itself as a perk. But a BCD Travel executive suggests that the majority of travellers comply with corporate policy, even if it means not maximizing reward earnings. Kim Kearns says most travellers make the choice that’s best for their company.
Travel Market Report
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Express Elevator
Amex Q2 Corporate Travel Sales Up 28%
More transactions and higher airfares drove second quarter American Express corporate travel sales up by nearly 28% to $4.6 billion. Corporate travel sales outpaced the company's overall travel sales, which also grew by an impressive 25% in Q2. Overall Amex reported $1 billion in net income for the quarter.
BTN
Mickey Does Oahu
Sneak Peek At Disney’s New Hawaii ResortIt’s still a year away from opening, but Disney has offered a sneak peek at Aulani, its first standalone resort away from a theme park. An hour’s drive from Honolulu, the resort will feature 359 hotel rooms and 481 time-share units. Other features include a convention centre, 15,000 sq. ft. spa and massive water play area. Reservations open next month.
AP
Open Jaw News: Grabbing The Rebound
Newsroom
Canada Stops Two MX Flights On Creditor Request
Russia's Hotel Scene Is Blossoming
Hawaii Posts 7th Straight Month Of Visitor Gains
For a full listing of today's news stories, visit the Newsroom
Cruise News
Agents Find Ways To Counter Cruise Direct Sales
NCL's Andy Stuart Loves To Tweet
Dead Whale Found On Bow Of Sapphire Princess
For a full listing of Cruise News stories, visit the Cruise section
July 30, 2010
The Big D Moseys Into Vancouver
with B.A.
Representatives from The Big D appeared in Vancouver recently. Relax, it’s not a large grocery chain or a big box store…just the nice folks from Dallas, Texas.
Why Vancouver? Actually, Dallas was here not as part of a...read on
July 30, 2010
Excuse me, dahrlings, but...
Take Them To The Gulag!
You know me, dahrlings, I give and I give and I give. But I’m only willing to take it on the chin so often, Pumpkins. Every time this little organization (and I use the term very loosely – it’s more like a Lota Psi Kos sorority over here), as I was saying, every time an article is posted on read on
The Best Of Ivanna
07/29/10
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