Taking off Travel blog

It’s been a while since we last looked at some of the stories making headlines in the travel industry, so here’s our first travel news roundup of 2010.

Travel Oscars - Are You In?

Are you ready to go to the Oscars? There are no films involved, but if you’re in the travel business, then the World Travel Awards are where you want to be. You can nominate yourself in one of 998 categories covering a wide range of regions. It’s a good way to strut your travel stuff and stand out from the herd or, as President and Founder Graham Cooke, says: “winning a World Travel Award is an excellent way to stand up and be counted at time when marketing budgets are tight”. Nomination forms are available here. You’ll need to get yours in by January 31. Read more »

When I wrote last week about travel trends that tick me off, I left out one major part of travel that takes the shine off the trip - airport security. Until eight years ago - and we all know why it changed - you would show your passport at the check-in desk, show it again at immigration and you and your stuff would get scanned quickly on the way out. On the way in, checks took only a short time (except in places like Miami Airport, which is always a time consuming stop).

Airport Security Checks

However, security checks now take an inordinate amount of time. On my recent trip to Bahrain, my bags were scanned several times, the first time even before I got to the check-in desk. Then they were scanned again at security, and then the hand luggage was searched on the way out of the country. Read more »

Breaking news: Indy Park Ride Fly is to offer complementary recharging of hybrid vehicles as part of its comprehensive off airport parking service. The service will also be available at Midway Park Ride and Fly and Albany Park Ride and Fly as well as selected parking facilities affiliated with Park Ride Fly USA.

Indy Park Ride Fly Map

WiFi In The Air

It’s time for another round-up of travel news. Today, I’m looking at news of interest to business travelers. First off, there’s good news if you have ever been frustrated by the lack of internet access when flying. Many domestic airlines now offer WiFi access through the GoGo network. Delta, American and Virgin are already signed up, while United Airlines is currently in trials. Other connectivity options are available on other carriers. Find out more in the original story. Read more »

It’s time for another roundup of what’s happening in travel.

Empire State Now On NYC Explorer Pass

If you’re planning a trip to New York, then you will be happy to hear that Smart Destinations has added the Empire State Building Observatory to the NYC Explorer Pass. The pass allows you to visit between three and seven attractions at an affordable pre-paid price. You can use it any of 40 attractions during a 30 day period and can get restaurant discounts as well.

‘With millions of visitors from around the world, the Empire State Building is the ‘must-see’ attraction in New York City,’ said Jean-Yves Ghazi, Director of the Observatory at the Empire State Building. ‘We have recently renovated our 86th and 102nd floor observatories with aesthetic and modernization improvements. By joining with the NYC Explorer Pass, we encourage people to get the most out of their visit to the world’s most famous office building.’ Read more »

This could be a good year for hotel deals.

If you’re traveling for business this year, then your hotel probably won’t cost much more than it did last year. Although hotel buyers haven’t seen major falls in domestic rates for 2009, there haven’t been any increases either. In part, this is because those negotiating corporate room rates have shown their willingness to go elsewhere if the price quoted doesn’t suit their budget. Domestic hotel demand is expected to drop and room rates to drop with it, so be on the lookout for some good deals as the year progressed. (Full story here.)

Key Influencers In Business Travel

Business Travel News has named its top business travel executives for 2008. These were nominated by industry executives. Airline decision makers dominate the list, with some influencers from government departments. Read more »