Travel & Travel Technology News.Mar 5, 2007 Barcelo Maya Beach Resort Announces Plans for Fifth Luxury Hotel. Barcelo Hotels & Resorts announced the addition of a fifth luxury hotel at its all-inclusive Barcelo Maya Beach Resort in Mexico's Riviera Maya "Riviera Maya" is a tourism district following the highway 307 of Quintana Roo, Mexico. It historically started at Playa del Carmen and ended at Tulum pueblo, though the towns of Puerto Morelos to the north of Playa del Carmen and Felipe Carrillo Puerto inland are both currently . Feb 28, 2007 European Commission European Commission, branch of the governing body of the European Union (EU) invested with executive and some legislative powers. Located in Brussels, Belgium, it was founded in 1967 when the three treaty organizations comprising what was then the European Community calls for comment on abolishing or revising GDS GDS Global Distribution System GDS Google Desktop Search (Google) GDS Goodie Domain Service (Vienna University of Technology, Austria) GDS Guards regulations. The European Commission asked for public comment on whether the Code of Conduct for Computerized Reservation Systems, first established in 1989, should be revised or abolished. The EC noted that since the last change to the Code of Conduct, most airlines have divested their holdings in GDSs. Of the four major GDS companies, only Amadeus still has some airline ownership: Air France/KLM owns 23.2%, and Lufthansa and Iberia each own 11.6%. Feb 27, 2007 The EC pointed out that the U.S. opted for total deregulation Deregulation The reduction or elimination of government power in a particular industry, usually enacted to create more competition within the industry. Notes: Traditional areas that have been deregulated are the telephone and airline industries. of the GDS industry, while Canada "opted for a partial but still far-reaching deregulation." Market evolution in the U.S. has led to a reduction of airline booking fees, so U.S. carriers have lower distribution costs distribution costs distribute npl → Vertriebskosten pl than their European counterparts, the EC said. "Although the introduction of per-segment charges on the travel agents indicates a transfer of the booking costs from the airlines to the travel agents, we do not have evidence whether the full costs have been passed on," the EC added. In light of these developments, the EC asked whether general competition rules are a sufficient remedy or deterrent to the abuse of market power Feb 27, 2007 The EC said, "alternative distribution channels are gaining ground, mainly due to the development of direct Internet sales." Internet penetration is likely to increase, it said. In addition, some of the larger travel agencies in the U.S. have established direct links to airlines that bypass GDSs. While the "GDS new entrants" have yet to establish a significant foothold in the market, they "at least contributed to pushing the traditional CRSs in adapting and modernizing their tools," the EC said. Feb 27, 2007 ASTA Unveils 07's Most Booked Destinations. Orlando, Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. and New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. once again are the most popular domestic destinations, while London, Rome and Cancun, took the top international honors, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a survey of 389 agencies released by the American Society of Travel Agents ASTA, short for the American Society of Travel Agents, claims over 20,000 members in 140 countries. Its members include travel agents and companies who offer travel products, such as tours, cruises, hotels, car rentals, etc. on Monday. Feb 27, 2007 Royal Hideaway Playacar Offers Special Travel Agent Rate. The Royal Hideaway Playacar, Occidental Hotels & Resorts' adults-only, all-inclusive flagship resort in the Riviera Maya, announced a new rate for travel agents who book vacations for travel by March 30. Feb 27, 2007 This year's National Tourism Week, taking place May 12 through 20, will focus on the importance of travel to America's image. Feb 27, 2007 Travel insurance can protect fliers during trips. Some travel insurance policies allow travelers to rebook re·book v. re·booked, re·book·ing, re·books v.tr. 1. To book again. 2. To change a booking for (a performance or reservation). v.intr. flights, writes Sandra Block in USA Today. Most policies will pay for meals and a hotel room if a traveler's flight is delayed or canceled, she notes. Feb 27, 2007 The travel industry is improving access for people with disabilities. A business traveler who is in a wheelchair noted that airlines have improved the way they accommodate travelers in wheelchairs in recent years. Feb 27, 2007 High-tech tags may reduce lost bags. A baggage-tagging system now used in Las Vegas and Hong Kong Airports could reduce the number of lost bags, the Wall Street Journal's Scott McCartney writes. An airline group this summer will decide whether to require carriers to use the technology. Feb 27, 2007 The Federation of Tour Operators claims that under international laws included in European legislation in 2004, the government is not entitled to impose dues or charges on aircraft solely for the right of transit over, or flying in or out of Britain from another country. Unlike airlines, tour operators, in most cases, cannot pass the rise on to leisure travellers who booked their trip before February. The Federation of Tour Operators claims the new tax rules breach the human rights of operators by not allowing them to pass on the higher charges to passengers who booked early. Treasury minister John Healey has already had to defend the legality of the increase after being quizzed in parliament. Budget airlines have also attacked the rise in duty as a ploy to cash in on the rapidly growing market for no-frills flights. Feb 26, 2007 UK Tour Operators To Challenge Airline Tax. Britain's Federation of Tour Operators (FTO Noun 1. FTO - a political movement that uses terror as a weapon to achieve its goals foreign terrorist organization, terrorist group, terrorist organization ) said on Monday that it would challenge the legality of the UK Air Passenger Duty airline tax. FTO said that if the High Court bid is successful the British government would be forced to scrap the Air Passenger Duty (APD APD atrial premature depolarization (see atrial premature complex, under complex ); pamidronate. ) brought in in 1994 and repay passengers and airlines more than GBP GBP In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the British Pound. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 2 billion pounds (USD USD In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the U.S. Dollar. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. $3.92 billion) the tax has brought in since 2004. British Chancellor Brown announced a doubling of air passenger duty in December's Pre-Budget Report, taking the levy on short-haul flights to GBP10 and on long-haul to GBP40 from February 1. Feb 26, 2007 Fliers turn to private Web sites to check on delays. Thousands of travelers used privately run Web sites to check on delays when winter storms snarled snarl 1 v. snarled, snarl·ing, snarls v.intr. 1. To growl viciously while baring the teeth. 2. To speak angrily or threateningly. v.tr. airline operations earlier this month. "Passengers are getting savvier and getting less dependent on the airlines," said Michael MacNair, chief executive of MacNair Travel Management. "So they have to do it themselves, and these are some of the tools where they can get the information they need," he said. Feb 26, 2007 Airbus, OnAir, SITA OnAir, the Airbus-SITA joint venture, named former Airbus Senior VP-Finance Benoit Debains as its new CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. effective March 1, replacing George Cooper. It also named SITA VP David Russell as OnAir COO. Feb 28, 2007 Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Cincinnati fares are highest in U.S., DOT report says A DOT report found that fares from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (IATA: CVG, ICAO: KCVG) is located in Hebron, unincorporated Boone County, Kentucky, United States and serves the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area. The first airplane landed at the airport January 10, 1947. are the highest in the U.S. The average round-trip ticket from the airport costs $556. Officials have said they have tried to attract discount airlines to the airport. Feb 28, 2007 NCL NCL Norwegian Cruise Line NCL New Caledonia (ISO Country code) NCL National Consumers League (Washington, DC) NCL Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (adult type) Weakening Dollar and Hawaii Challenges Blamed For NCL Losses. NCL Corp. reported 2006 fourth quarter losses of $116 million on Monday, which added to a full-year net loss of $130.9 million. Feb 27, 2007 US Airways US Airways to switch to single reservation system on March 4. US Airways will switch to a single reservation system on March 4. The change means America West's code will disappear from global distribution systems, but some flights will still appear as "operated by America West." A US Airways spokeswoman says the integration should also eliminate some Web site errors. Mar 2, 2007 Worldspan Worldspan Debuts Desktop Tool Worldspan on Thursday released a desktop tool for agents, called the Worldspan Go! e-Pricing Shopping Tool, which gives access to the technology provider's suite of low-fare shopping tools from a single point on the Worldspan Go! desktop. Mar 2, 2007 03/05/2007 Z Editor: Aram Gesar, eMail: edit@AirGuideOnline.com For Air Transport & Travel Business Experts contact eMail: bizintel@AirGuideOnline.com For more global news, reviews, features and analysis, please subscribe to our Newsletters: http://www.airguideonline.com/order_formsubs.htm#news To Advertise: advert@AirGuideOnline.com Copyright [c] 2007 Air Travel Media / Pyramid Media Group. All rights reserved. Feb 26, 2007 |
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