Some Rediscover the Benefits of Business Travel
from The New York Times
When the economy collapsed last fall, many companies had to make some quick decisions about travel, typically one of the first areas they trim when finances are tight. Should they cut back as most of their competitors were, continue business as usual or spend even more to get a leg up? Most companies -- about 85 percent -- decreased travel spending, according to the National Business Travel Association, a trade group. But two recent reports, commissioned independently by the business travel association and another trade group, the U.S. Travel Association, found a clear link between business travel and corporate profit. More

It's Not a Junket, It's an Investment
from BusinessWeek
Luxury hotels are trying to rejuvenate junkets--by couching them as wise investments. In September the travel association gave industry salespeople a 50-page study projecting bottom-line benefits for business events and travel. Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt, and Omni have chimed in with ad campaigns. The message: Hotel meetings, with their ballroom dinners, poolside cocktails, and afternoon golf outings, aren't frippery. They're a prudent way to motivate staff and cultivate new business. "It's not extravagant if it produces results," reads a Ritz-Carlton ad appearing recently in The Wall Street Journal. "It's not a bachelor party. This is my sales team," reads the headline of another ad popping up in business publications, this one from the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. Over the past 12 months, meanwhile, the Four Seasons chain has held roughly 130 events for prospective clients, in part to argue that a Four Seasons vacation is an effective employee incentive. More

Feds Try Again to Fix Problems in U.S. Airline Industry
from USA Today
For the third time in 16 years the federal government is forming a blue-ribbon panel to try to save the USA's troubled airline industry, which has racked up $58.5 billion in losses and shed 158,000 jobs this decade. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who has ordered up the panel, vows it won't be "just another advisory committee." More

FAA or Your Car: Whose Computer Has More Muscle?
from ABC News
Just how old is the air traffic control system that keeps our skies safe? That was the question many people were asking after a Federal Aviation Administration computer glitch Thursday morning caused widespread cancelations and flight delays across the country. It was the second major failure in 15 months, leading some to say it's about time the country upgraded an air traffic control system that dates back to the 1960s. More

Holiday Travel by the Numbers
from the Holland Sentinel
It seems even the economy and the worst weather won’t keep people from traveling to see their friends and family around the holidays. Here’s a look at some holiday travel numbers. More

Recalibrating the Calculus of Holiday Travel
from MSNBC
More Americans are hitting the road for Thanksgiving this year, but fewer than ever are heading to the airport. While that’s certainly a sign of the times, it may also be an indicator of long-term changes ahead. According to AAA, 38.4 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home over the holiday weekend, an increase of 1.4 percent over last year. The number of people traveling by car is expected to increase by 2.1 percent while the number of fliers is projected to drop 6.7 percent. More

DHS Proposes Permanent Global Entry Program
from Travel Industry Uptake Blog
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano recently announced the publication of new proposed rule that would establish the Global Entry Program as a permanent program. The Global Entry Program uses biometric identification and expedites clearance of pre-approved, low-risk travelers into the United States. It is currently available as a pilot program at 20 U.S. international airports. According to the CBP, entry wait times are reduced by up to 70 percent for Global Entry participants. More

CDC Tells Travelers to 'Stop, Wash and Go'
from UPI
Holiday get-togethers and traveling itself provide an ideal way for illness to spread, especially H1N1 flu, U.S. health officials said. Officials of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said Thursday it beginning its largest ever public awareness campaign about staying healthy while traveling. More

Big Turnout of Buyers Expected For International Pow Wow
from the U.S. Travel Association
Registration for buyers has opened for International Pow Wow, May 15-19, 2010 in Orlando. A heavy turnout of International Buyers is expected this year because of the show’s location of Orlando, which is always a popular destination among buyers. Plus, a rebound of international inbound travel is projected in 2010, which is expected to bring even more buyers’ ready to negotiate and contract new business. International Pow Wow is the only show where suppliers are able to pre-schedule up to 44 appointments per booth with 1,200 buyers from around the world. For more information, go to www.powwowonline.com. More