Focus Page 379
Are you coming to the Adventure Travel World Summit?
The Adventure Travel World Summit is on October 19-22, 2009 in historic Quebec City. I’ll be attending this year as a speaker focusing on Social media and distribution systems for the adventure segment.
Cranky Concierge – Personalized Air Travel Assistance
This is a time when check-in desks at airports are being eliminated in favor of online check-in and hotels tout virtual concierge systems where guests don’t have to deal with any human staff during the stay, from check-in to checkout. But one man apparently didn’t get the memo.
PhoCusWright’s Hot Topics - August 2009
It’s the third quarter of a turbulent 2009 and PhoCusWright subscribers are looking to keep an eye on the financial performance of the online travel market.
United: All you can check for $249 a year
United has come out with their latest offering in the ever creative world of airline fees: the all-you-can-eat plan for checked baggage. For $249 a year, United will allow you to check up to two bags (normally $20 and $30 for the 1st and 2nd bags) for a whole year. Any hangers-on (up to eight) in the same reservation also benefit from the deal. Think of how much the Eight-is-Enough family would have saved had this been around in their day.
American Airlines teams up with the next iron chef
As recession conditions linger, the travel industry continues to seek out ways to reach, and excite, its audience into parting with discretionary dollars. American Airlines thinks food could be that special ingredient.
US entry hassles blamed for Chicago’s botched olympic bid
The hunt for an official scapegoat to blame for Chicago’s botched bid for the 2016 Olympics is over, and the villians of the story are now Homeland Security and the TSA.
AsiaRooms and LateRooms complete merger of operations - my guess from reading between the lines
Here at BOOT central (even while on holidays) we are always on the look out for information about the TUI owned AsiaRooms.
Orbitz blogger day
Orbitz Worldwide hosted their first annual Blogger’s Day early this week at their headquarters in the beautiful city of Chicago.
The Olympic effect – Chicago Lost, but Chicago tourism strikes gold
Chicago has been eliminated in the first round in it’s bid to host the 2016 Olympics, inspite of a spirited team effort by the Chicago delegation – including President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. But there may still be a consolation prize in something called the Olympic Effect.
BTN spotlight: Brett Callaghan, TotallyBarbados
Brett Callaghan is the brains behind TotallyBarbados.com – the number one website for everything related to the beautiful Caribbean island. BTN caught up with the former professional jockey turned web entrepreneur to find out how a site that started small has grown big by tapping into local knowledge.
Jetsetter Brings Daily Deals to Gilt-Edged Upscale Travel
New York based Jetsetter (http://www.jetsetter.com) is a new flash-sale website that sells hand-picked upscale travel experiences at flash-sale prices which you won’t otherwise get directly from the travel company responsible for the experience.
Can Restaurants Save New York City or Las Vegas Economies?
The Old Guard is in trouble when it comes to making a living on the New York City restaurant scene. Tavern on the Green declared bankruptcy in September, not even two weeks after Café des Artistes closed its doors. The owners said after 92 years in the restaurant business, the company could no longer pay employees’ health and pension benefits. Indeed, reports say they were $250,000 behind in health insurance and $116,000 in pension payments