On the Go – October 3, 2024

Industry News – Click on the title to read the full article. Many of the sources below require a free registration to gain access to the article. If a paid registration is required, the individual source will be noted.

Airlines

Delta CEO Highlights Tech, Business Travel (Source: Star Tribune)
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian spoke at the ACI Customer Experience Summit 2024 in Atlanta about the airline’s efforts to enhance passenger experience through technology, including a mobile app that uses AI and machine learning to offer personalized information and streamline the airport experience. In a separate appearance in Minneapolis, Bastian said business travel is “more than 100% back” from the pandemic for Delta as a whole.

Southwest Begins Installing New Aircraft Interior (Source: Simple Flying)
Southwest Airlines has begun retrofitting its fleet with a new interior design that includes the airline’s first premium seating, new seat trays, device trays and charging ports. “It may be one of the most significant changes we’ve ever gone through,” said Ryan Green, Southwest’s executive vice president for commercial transformation.

Delta Moves Hub Of Asia Operations To South Korea (Source: Delta News Hub)
Delta Air Lines will be shifting the hub of its Asian operations to Incheon International Airport (ICN) in Seoul, South Korea, from Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT). Delta also announced it is launching a new nonstop route between Salt Lake City and Seoul in June, which will be the only direct route between the Utah Capital and Asia. “We think the Incheon hub is the best-connecting airport that’s been built to connect customers efficiently and quickly and has the ability to continue to grow to other destinations within Asia,” said Joe Esposito, network planning vice president.

Security

U.S. Customs And Border Protection Raises Global Entry Fees By 20% (Source: CNN)
The price of a smoother experience going through American airports has just gone up by 20%.  US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has raised the cost of applying for or renewing its Trusted Traveler Programs – a catchall term that covers Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI – from $100 to $120, as of October 1.

Hotels

Hilton Tops BTN’s 2024 Hotel Survey (Source: Business Travel News)
Hilton Hotels earned a close victory over a crowded field of traditional hotel brands in BTN’s annual survey of corporate travel buyers. Read the full BTN 2024 Hotel Brand Survey & Report to find out how the hotel brands stacked up in this year’s rankings. Plus, BTN’s data and analysis of buyers’ negotiation strategies and hotel program structures going into 2025.

New and Renovated Hotels In Vienna (Source: Travel Weekly)
Just because Vienna is known for its historic architectural marvels doesn’t mean the city is afraid of change, especially when it comes to hotels. From newbuilds to properties housed in Imperial buildings, here’s a sampling of what’s new and newly renovated.  Clients enamored of Vienna’s storied Old Town, for example, can opt for the Hotel zur Wiener Staatsoper, located in city center just off Karntner Strasse, a popular shopping mecca.

Hyatt Announces Plans For Two New Hotels In Saudi Arabia (Source: Travel Market Report)
Hyatt is further committing to Saudi Arabia with the addition of two new hotels in Jaumur, one of several planned communities for the country’s upcoming NEOM district.  The Park Hyatt Jaumur and the Andaz Jaumur Marina will both open in 2027, adding 350 luxury hotel rooms and suites to Jaumur, NEOM. NEOM is a planned community, currently under construction in northwest Saudi Arabia, that is part of the government’s Vision 2030.

Sheraton Brand Refresh On Display At San Diego Hotel (Source: Travel Weekly)
Brewery X was busy on a Saturday night, its large televisions beaming various sporting events and revelers munching on dishes with playful names like the Hot Chick sandwich and the Walter White pizza.  The restaurant, which opened this summer, spills into the lobby of the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, intentionally adding energy and the flow of people to the hotel’s main artery and gathering spot.

Restaurateur Jose Andres Will Open Luxury Hotel In D.C. (Source: Travel Weekly)
Chef and restaurateur Jose Andres is expanding his hospitality empire by adding a luxury hotel, The Bazaar House by Jose Andres, in Washington D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood.  Slated to debut in 2027, the 67-room hotel will have food and beverage venues curated by Jose Andres Group, event spaces, a wellness center and high-end retail.

Ground Transportation

Eurostar To Join SkyTeam (Source: Business Travel News)
High-speed rail service Eurostar is set to become the first non-airline partner to join the SkyTeam alliance, with its launch set for the first half of 2025, Eurostar announced Wednesday.  Customers will be able to fly into hubs in France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and other major European airports across Eurostar’s network and transfer to rail connections.

Leisure Travel

Croatia’s ‘Game Of Thrones’ City to Limit Tourism Traffic (Source: Skift)
The medieval walled city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, is turning to technology to manage its burgeoning tourism industry. Traffic has become unmanageable since the city starred as a backdrop in HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”  Starting next year, Dubrovnik will launch a “special traffic regime zone” in its UNESCO-listed Old Town. The zone will use a custom mobile app to regulate tour buses and slash the number of permitted taxis from a staggering 9,000 to just 700.

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