|
|
TRAVEL
WATCHER
Insider news & notes from your business travel authority
|
|
|
UP IN THE AIR
Port Authority approves Delta's plan for LGA terminals
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey approved Delta's plan to rebuild LaGuardia Airport terminals C and D. The carrier will operate 37 gates, all but four of them with dual-taxi lanes for faster trips to and from the runways. The facility's footprint also will move, allowing more space for the taxiways. Delta says construction will begin as soon as they obtains approval from FAA and finalizes the lease with PANYNJ. Delta and the port authority have been discussing a lease term through 2050. The carrier operates 275 departures a day out of LaGuardia's terminals A, C and D, and it will continue to operate out of Terminal A.
"Replacing these outmoded terminals is a major step forward in our reimagining of LaGuardia into a 21st-century, world-class airport worthy of the Empire State," said NY Governor Andrew Cuomo.
What it means to you: Because the parking lot service at Terminal B is closed for the two-year renovation. Try not to bring your car to LGA. Take taxi or car service.
ORD gets a badly needed upgrade
Skift--New Yorkers are
quick to complain about the poor state of LaGuardia and Newark airports, but take a walk through Chicago O'Hare's international terminal and you'll quickly see who's got it worse! T5, or the international terminal of Chicago O'Hare, is designed for a generation past. Hallways are narrow, leaving little room for passengers to walk around the terminal and there's little space for queuing, let alone enough room for decent lounges or airport stores. That's why it's welcome news to that the City of Chicago is planning to expand the international terminal by 25%, adding nine new gates.
According to the Sun-Times, planning should be wrapped up in 2017.
Delta's Lease for a New LAX Home Has Been Approved
The Los Angeles World Airports board of airport commissioners approved a lease and license agreement to launch Delta's seven-year, $1.9 billion plan to upgrade and connect Los Angeles International Airport terminals 2 and 3. The project will relocate Delta's gates from terminals 5 and 6 and put the carrier in the same terminal as
Aeromexico, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia. The project also will include a connector to LAX's Tom Bradley International Terminal, where partners Air France-KLM, Alitalia, China Eastern and China Southern operate.
Etihad Airways Opens Luxury Lounge at LAX
Etihad Airways announced the launch of a new First and Business Class Lounge at the Tom Bradley International Terminal in Los Angeles International Airport. The new lounge is the third in the United States for Etihad Airways, with the other two in Washington, D.C. and New York City. The lounge features Arabian design elements and perks include appointed seating, a dining area, a full-service bar, a television area, shower facilities, high-speed Wi-Fi, electrical and USB power outlets and much more.
An additional VIP area is also available to Etihad First Class and Business Class guests, Etihad Guest Platinum, Gold and Silver members flying on EY170 and Etihad Airways Partner airlines' equivalent Platinum and Gold members.
Delta to Boost Business Class Long-Haul Privacy
A 32-suite cabin, in which each seat is set apart by a sliding, full-height door and privacy dividers between the two center seats, will appear on Delta's first Airbus A350, scheduled to begin service in fall 2017.
Senior vice president of global sales Bob Somers said Delta designed the suites following "extensive customer testing, focus groups and research," including with the airline's corporate clients.
|
HOTELNEWS
Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
Has been voted World's Best Hotel Brand for the second consecutive year by
Travel + Leisure, USA, World's Best Awards, 2016. Furthermore, the top three Resorts in India are also Oberoi Hotels & Resorts:
- The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur
- The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambhore
- The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur
7 great hotels for business travelers
Business Insider--Traveling for business can often be tiring and stressful, but staying at the right hotel can help ensure a better experience. These hotels feature full-service business centers, close proximity to central business districts, executive lounges, ample meeting spaces, and special amenities to keep you looking fresh and feeling relaxed.
|
|
YOURWORLD
India & Indonesia will surpass China as fastest-growing business travel market
Global business travel spending will increase to $1.3 trillion in 2016 and should grow an average of 5.8% per year to $1.6 trillion by 2020, according to the Global Business Travel Association's annual forecast.
The forecast--sponsored by Visa-- projects the largest business travel growth rates over the next five years will occur in India and Indonesia. China
surpassed the United States
as the largest business travel market in 2015, but its business travel growth rate will slow to fifth-highest over that period. Even so, China will be a $291 billion market with 8.4% average annual growth, giving it the largest overall gains of any market, according to GBTA.
In 2015, global business travel spending increased 5 percent to $1.2 trillion, rising in each of the top 15 markets except Brazil and Russia.
The effects of the United Kingdom's vote to exit the European Union also remain to be seen.
|
|
Cvent maps end-to-end meetings tech platform
At its recent conference, Cvent has laid out a road map of its future meetings and events technology. They are focused on three technology trends: easier-to-use technology; the marketing cloud; and attendee experience. "Our goal is to produce features and functions across every layer of this pyramid to help you achieve your goals," said Cvent chief technology officer David Quattrone. We highly recommend the
full article for Cvent users. Remember, Protravel is a licensed reseller of Cvent.
Virtual card available as payment option on Concur
GraspPAY single-use virtual cards now are among the payment options available to those booking travel on Concur, a Protravel preferred partner. Previously, bookers could enter virtual card numbers as they would enter credit card numbers, but they'd have to generate a virtual card number elsewhere first. Now, a traveler who has GraspPAY saved as a payment option within his or her Concur profile can, in one step, generate a virtual card number and apply it. The system also sends a PDF record of the transaction to the traveler and a fax authorization to the supplier. Farther on the horizon, Grasp will look at ways to automate single-use virtual cards as payment options within Web browsers. Read the full article
here
|
|
YOURLIFE
Do's and don'ts of international business travel
Courtesy of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers: when you travel abroad for business, you are essentially an ambassador, representing both yourself and your organization. You run the risk of appearing naïve, or offending the people you want to impress, without the correct preparation. Understanding another country's culture goes much deeper than learning its tipping practices.
Follow the helpful tips below to ensure your next international trip is a success. Click here for full article.
- Don't wait until the last minute: Give yourself enough time to gather the necessary travel documents. If you need to apply for or renew your passport, the routine processing time in the U.S. can be up to six weeks. You may also need to obtain visas if you are traveling to certain countries.
- Do travel smart: Check online for government-issued travel advisories. Also, be nice to the flight attendant, because you never know if you will need them.
- Do charge-up: Bring chargers for your cell phone and electronic devices, and ensure you have the proper adapter for your destination country.
- Don't face cell and credit woes: Contact your cell phone and credit card carriers before you leave to clarify the options you have--and any fees you might incur --for international usage.
- Don't be late: Always plan to arrive one day early to cope with jet lag, which will also give you a sense of security if your flight is delayed or you run into unexpected problems along the way.
- Do show respect: After you arrive, show respect for your hosts by ensuring that you are on time to all of your scheduled meetings. "Punctuality is the politeness of kings; always be on time," says Mohammed Alyanbaawi, a process engineer at Saudi Aramco.
- Do understand the local customs: Brush up on the proper use of names and titles, and know who the decision-makers of rank are when conducting a meeting. Check the normal workday and business hours to avoid scheduling anything too early or during lunch. Understand how to follow customs - for example, dressing appropriately in a conservative country - and the implication of not following customs - say, extending a hand very quickly and obviously to indicate you don't want to be kissed." Make sure you do your homework before you travel, and don't be afraid to ask for advice from others who have traveled to the country you are visiting.
|
|
THEGREATESCAPE
Uniworld
Uniworld's global team is passionate about delivering an unmatched European river cruise experience. They work tirelessly to set impeccable industry standards-the best ships, the best food, the best service. It is no wonder discerning travelers and travel agents alike award Uniworld with high honors year after year, as the readers of Travel + Leisure recently did when they named Uniworld "World's Best River Cruise Line." There has never been a better time to embark on an all-inclusive Uniworld voyage in Europe. Contact your Protravel agent for special offers and exclusive savings.
Spotlight on: JAPAN
Discover why Japan is now on everybody's best destination shortlist for, in the words of Lonely Planet, "travelers in search of an otherworldly experience. Nowhere else on earth exemplifies 'modern yet ancient' like the land of the rising sun." (And they are hosting the 2020 Olympics.) Here are some of our favorite hotels in Tokyo and Kyoto. Click on the photos for a deeper look. As always, when you book through your Protravel agent, enjoy exclusive VIP amenities.
|
|
MISSED AN ISSUE? WANT TO SUBSCRIBE? VISIT
|
|
|
| |
|
|
