Long-Range Forecast for the Luxury Travel Market Is Mixed, According to a New Study by Unity Marketing (Marketwire)

Prospects Bright for Personal Luxury Travel, While Luxury Business Travel Will Be Off; A New Trend Report Provides Predictions for the Luxury Travel Market Through 2010

See the article here:
Long-Range Forecast for the Luxury Travel Market Is Mixed, According to a New Study by Unity Marketing (Marketwire)

American Express Clients Expect China to Lead Business Travel Recovery

SHANGHAI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–American Express Business Travel announced today the findings of two surveys which offered separate yet similar predictions on the health and future of business travel heading into 2010. The company surveyed its Global Business Partnership (GBP) clients, its largest global clients, as well as 180 client organizations based across Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou in China through its annual China Business Travel Survey (The Barometer). The findings indicate that clients

See original here:
American Express Clients Expect China to Lead Business Travel Recovery

INDUSTRY & ECONOMY (The Hindu)

HOTELS: Luxury hotels offer hot deals, cool prices Room rates drop with reduced business travel, tourist arrivals. Chennai, Oct. 23 At Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai, a single occupancy room usually goes for Rs 17,000 a night. Now, it is available for Rs 10,000. Bargain further, and the executive at …

More here:
INDUSTRY & ECONOMY (The Hindu)

Courtyard by Marriott Rebrands Itself with Upscale Amenities

The battle has just gotten tougher in the business travel industry. This week Courtyard by Marriott is officially launching their new and highly improved lobby/lounge design. I’ve always been partial to Hampton Inn’s layout and ambiance for mid-priced hotel travel, however Coutyard is upping the ante with a number of amenities usually only found in more upscale accommodations. Below is a brief summary of all the new changes that Courtyard has launched, also make sure to check out the bottom of the post and you can see an image gallery of all the new features.

The open, bright and contemporary new Courtyard hotel lobby welcomes guests with vivid contrasting colors, including blue, green, orange and red. The traditional front desk is replaced with separate welcome podiums to create more personal and private interactions when guests check in. Flexible seating options range from a communal table in the middle of the action, to more private media booths with a high-definition televisions, to a more intimate, semi-enclosed lounge area.

Courtyard Hotel GoBoard in the lobby

A signature element of the new lobby is the exclusive Courtyard GoBoard™, a 52-inch LCD touch screen packed with local information, maps, weather, and news, business and sports headlines. Guests can navigate using the touch screen to find restaurants, local attractions and directions.
Courtyard Hotel Lobby Business Center

Guests can connect to free WiFi and there are ample electrical outlets throughout the lobby to power digital devices. The enlarged business library features several complimentary computer terminals along with a free printer and separate computer stations dedicated to printing airline boarding passes and checking flight status.

Dining has been completely redesigned with casual, flexible seating; easier access to food and higher quality, healthier menu options for breakfast; and light evening fare, including snacks, wine and beer so guests can unwind. The Market™, a 24/7 shop for snacks, beverages and sundries, is always open for late-night cravings or the toothpaste you forgot to pack.

Courtyard Hotel Lounge

Guests looking to take their minds off work can grab a snack, their favorite beverage and take a seat in front of the large high-definition television located in the lounge to watch a variety of programming, including top news, business, sports and entertainment channels. The new patio and fire pit are a welcoming outdoor element integrated into the lobby design that encourages guests to grab a beverage and get a breath of fresh air at the end of the day.

Adding to the lobby ambiance, the new Courtyard soundtrack will change throughout the day from upbeat in the morning to more casual in the evening.

Courtyard Hotel Front Desk

Guests walking into the lobby will immediately notice individual welcome podiums designed to create more personal interactions between staff and guests when checking in. Courtyard staff will be able to move about to show guests the lobby features and provide assistance.

Find more photos like this on CitySpur

Report Outlines the "New Normal" for U.S. Business Travel

ALEXANDRIA, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) — the leading global business travel organization — today provided its members with the 2010 U.S. Business Travel Buyers’ Cost Forecast. This latest installment of the widely-respected annual tool for the U.S. corporate travel industry forecasts the following ranges for changes in travel rates/fares: � Average U.S. Domestic Rates / Fares � Average � � rates/airfares % change � � 2009

More here:
Report Outlines the "New Normal" for U.S. Business Travel

Individual Business Travel Expected to Be Strong

The fall 2009 business travel season will not be as bleak for individual, or “unmanaged,” business travelers, compared to industry-projected reductions in corporate, or “managed,” travel, according to a newly-formed Best Western advisory board.

A large majority of those surveyed, who spent more than 250 nights over the past five years, plan to hit the road for the same number of nights or more compared to a year ago. Though most do not foresee much change in their business travel schedules, only one-third are seeing signals of recovery in their respective industries.

These and other findings are included in a new report entitled “Taking The Pulse of Unmanaged Business Travelers: A Marketplace Research Report” which will be released later this week, toplines results from an August survey of Best Western Diamond 100 Advisory Board members. Other highlights include:

• 80 percent plan to travel for business as much or more than they did last fall
• 75 percent have not been asked to dramatically reduce business travel spending or provide more justification for trips in the last six months
• More than 80 percent have not made any permanent changes in their business travel habits due to the recession
• Fewer than one in five feel virtual alternatives such as videoconferencing are likely to replace business trips over the next six months

Henry Harteveldt, vice president and principal analyst of airline and travel research for Forrester who was interviewed for this report, says unmanaged business travelers will not only continue to account for a noticeable majority of all business travelers, but their numbers may even grow in the near future.

Executives Reveal Likes and Dislikes of Business Air Travel

Top American business executives in three major markets put away their PDAs long enough to disclose their likes and dislikes about the air travel experience, the results of which were announced today in a survey conducted by Continental and Chase.  The survey queried 30 executives at leading companies in Continental’s hub markets – New York Metro, Cleveland and Houston – including BMW of North America, The Sherwin Williams Company, United Water, Jaguar Land Rover North America, Moen and Waste Management, Inc.

“Given today’s global marketplace and 24/7 digital connectivity, many business travelers use travel time as an extension of the office, working in the ticket line and on the plane to get the job done,” said Mark Bergsrud, senior vice president of Marketing and Distribution Planning, Continental Airlines. “Knowing the reality of constant remote work demands, we strive to make the air travel experience for business travelers as hassle-free as possible.”

David Gold, general manager, Chase Card Services, adds: “We recognize what matters for today’s business traveler by constantly keeping a pulse on their attitudes and values. With that in mind, we design our products and services to provide the smoothest and most rewarding air travel experience.”

Insights from Business Executives in New York Metro, Cleveland and Houston

Beyond gathering insights on which famous or not-so-famous individual business travelers were interested in sitting next to on their next flight, the interviews also revealed how executives feel about travel:

• Seatmates – When asked which business leader they would most like to sit next to on their next flight, many business executives named business leaders including, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Warren Buffet, and celebrities such as Jay Leno, Oprah Winfrey and Tiger Woods. However, a handful of executives said they’d rather sit next to their own boss – choosing face-time and a chance to discuss their own business and career rather than sit next to a well-known business leader or celebrity.
• On the Plane – Many business leaders use their flights as work time and nearly all say reading material is a must-have, along with their BlackBerry and iPod or headset. Business executives aren’t bringing just any books on the plane either – nearly all who say they bring a book specify that it must be a “good” book.
• Long Lines – Business executives want to get in and out quickly. The more express and priority lines they can take advantage of, the better.
• Unnecessary Delays – Waiting and unnecessary delays caused by novice travelers are some of the biggest frustrations for business executives, who know their frequented airports and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) rules inside and out.

Hampton Hotels to Become Kid Friendly

Less than one third of business travelers were joined by family members on their last business trip, which is why Hampton Hotels has created a new package that sends parents home with a gift that is sure to bring a smile to their child’s face. This summer, Hampton is offering parents who book the Hampton’s Webkinz Package an exclusive Webkinz plush pet upon check-in that they can bring home to their little one.

Webkinz’ parent company, Ganz, unveiled today three new pets as part of the collection that will be available through the Hampton Webkinz Package: Blossom Bird, Springer Spaniel and Guinea Pig.

Webkinz plush pets are a sensation among six to 13 year-olds. The pets are not only a plush toy but a virtual education tool that allow children to build an online version of each pet by accessing the pet’s secret code.

“As a working mother myself, I know how hard it is to be away from your family on business,” said Judy Christa-Cathey, vice president brand marketing for Hampton Hotels. “Our summer Webkinz package offers parents that stay with us an entertaining and educational present for their kids to show that even when we’re on the road, our families are in our thoughts and our hearts.”

Guests that book the Hampton Webkinz Package online at Hampton.com/toyoffer and complete their stay now through August 30, 2009 at participating hotel locations in United States, Canada, and United Kingdom, will receive their choice of Blossom Bird, Springer Spaniel or Guinea Pig upon check-in while supplies last.

Once the Webkinz pet makes it back to its new home, children will be able to use the pet’s distinct secret code to complete the “adoption” online and begin creating the pet’s own virtual room. Inside the Webkinz World, there are additional games, contests, trivia questions and even jobs that the child can complete. This responsibility, as well as making sure the pet is properly fed and in good health, are all educational programs for today’s children.

Embassy Suites Launches a Blog Written for Road Warriors by Road Warriors

Embassy Suites Hotels announced the redesign of its popular site BusinessBalance.com — a website designed specifically with the needs of business travelers in mind. Taking direction from the fast-paced world in which guests receive and send information, BusinessBalance.com will continue to offer advice on a variety of topics including fitness, food and work/life balance, with new experts – and now in blog form. Experts will blog on a continuous basis, giving site visitors the nuggets of knowledge they need to survive and succeed in today’s business environment.

“We received terrific customer feedback on our BusinessBalance.com web site, including requests to make the site faster, easier to navigate and more interactive,” said John Lee, VP, Brand Marketing & Communications, Embassy Suites Hotels. “We were happy to accommodate our site visitors with improved functionality, a fresh blog format and a new line-up of popular bloggers that will add real value to business travelers seeking balance on the road.”

In addition to new bloggers and the switch from traditional website to a blog structure, BusinessBalance.com plays host to a number of new features, including a shift from Flash to HTML form to allow for more efficient and easy-to-use navigation – especially for those business travelers frequenting the site via handheld devices. The site also includes new RSS functionality so that business travelers can receive regular alerts when new content is posted, as well as a Flickr stream to help readers better visualize how a balanced business life looks while on the road.

About the Experts:

Jane and Michael Stern, Roadfood.com – Food

Jane and Michael Stern travel the back roads of America searching for good, regional restaurants. After meeting at Yale University in the 1970s, the Sterns married and began a collaboration that has yielded more than thirty books, including the culinary guide, Roadfood, cookbooks Square Meals and American Gourmet, and non-culinary best-sellers Elvis World, The Encyclopedia of Bad Taste, and Way Out West. In her New York Times book review of their recently published memoir, Two for the Road, Nora Ephron wrote, “Jane and Michael Stern deserve a room of their own in the Smithsonian Institution, right next to Julia Child’s Cambridge kitchen.”

The Sterns are contributing editors at Gourmet magazine, where they write a monthly column titled “Roadfood,” taking readers to down home restaurants in small towns and cities all around the U.S. Their website, www.roadfood.com, averages over four million page views and a half million unique visitors each month and has won awards for best Internet food site from PC Magazine, Forbes and Yahoo.com. Each week, Jane and Michael contribute a “Two for the Road” segment to “The Splendid Table” on Public Radio.

Every year from 1995 to 1999, and again in 2004, the Sterns’ Gourmet column was nominated for a James Beard Award for Best Magazine Writing, an award they won in 1997 and 1999. In 1992, Jane and Michael received the Perrier Jouet Award for lifetime achievement and were inducted into the Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America.

Erin Whitehead and Jenn Walters, FitBottomedGirls.com – Fitness

Erin Whitehead and Jenn Walters make up the Fit Bottomed Girls dynamic duo. Jenn has several fitness credentials under her belt: she is a certified personal trainer, a lifestyle and weight management consultant, and a group exercise instructor. Erin has years of workout experience and is well-versed in fitness news and trends. Even with their expertise, the Fit Bottomed Girls pride themselves on being real girls—not gladiators. They understand that health and fitness should be about enjoyable activities and the occasional treat, not about torturous workouts and deprivation.

Erin and Jenn launched FitBottomedGirls.com in May 2008. The website features weekday posts with fresh fitness content for real women (and even guys) interested in improving their health through physical activity and sensible eating. They offer workout reviews, fitness news, product and food information and, most importantly, personal accounts of their exercise endeavors and fitness humor.

Erin Kane and Kristin Brandt, ManicMommies.com – Work/Life Balance

Erin Martin Kane is a professional freelance publicist who makes a living promoting media projects out of her home office. She specializes in public television programs and Web sites. When she’s not working, blogging or podcasting she’s chasing around her two little boys in a suburb of Boston. Erin produces the weekly podcast “Manic Mommies,” which she co-hosts with her neighbor, Kristin Brandt. It was through podcasting that Erin developed a genuine interest in technology, and today she’s constantly on the hunt for products and platforms that simplify her work and help her manage her household.

In addition to co-hosting “Manic Mommies,” Kristin Brandt is a full-time account executive and project supervisor with a marketing and advertising agency outside Boston. She is credited with coming up with the name “Manic Mommies,” a term many American moms now use to describe themselves! The mother of two small children, Kristin is the more “computer-savvy” of the Manic Mommies and is responsible for editing the podcast and maintaining the Web site. Kristin is fascinated by any new, shiny gadget and often jokes that her daughter is doomed to inherit a pile of junk jewelry and old technology.

Economic Downturn Changing the Way We Travel

From bargain hunting for accommodations to hopping in a car instead of on a plane, many individuals and companies are responding to the uncertain economic climate and worse personal financial conditions by adjusting their travel behaviors in 2009 to find more affordable ways to travel, but many aren’t eliminating travel plans altogether.

In a recent poll conducted by Harris Interactive, 48% of U.S. adults say their financial situation is worse now than it was one year ago. For some that is translating into plans for fewer vacations and fewer dollars spent on leisure travel in 2009.

While almost half plan to travel just as much or more in 2009 as they did in 2008, two-fifths (38%) anticipate that the economy will have no impact on their travel plans, and 8% plan to travel more in the next 12 months than they did in 2008, nearly two-fifths (37%) of consumers say they are less likely to travel within the next 12 months due to economic conditions.

Other findings from the study include:

• Over one-fourth (27%) will decrease the duration of their leisure trips.
• Four in ten (40%) will reduce the amount of money they spend on leisure trips. Among these consumers looking to cut costs:
  • Roughly three-fifths will find less expensive accommodations (62%), less expensive meal options (61%), or will look for less expensive activities (58%).
  • Nearly half will reduce travel expenses by vacationing closer to home (48%), staying with friends/family instead of a hotel (46%), or reduce expenses by driving rather than flying (45%).
  • One-third (34%) will stretch their vacation dollars by going on a “staycation” close to home or by sharing travel costs with friends or other families.

Companies are also changing their travel spending habits in 2009. Three in five (61%) people surveyed said their companies had changed their travel policies in last 12 months, and one in five (21%) said they were less likely to travel for business in 2009 than they were in 2008.

Reducing or eliminating nonessential travel was the most frequently reported method of cutting business travel expenses. Three in ten people (30%) reported that their companies had reduced or eliminated all nonessential travel, and 21% said their companies were using technology to reduce or eliminate travel costs. Other reported changes to company travel policies include encouraging day trips (13%), booking with hotels and airlines that provide preferred rates (12%), and enforcing per diem allowances (10%).

Next Page »