TRAVEL WATCHER
Insider news & notes from your business travel authority 
DECEMBER 2016
UP IN THE AIR
BA will renovate U.S. airport facilities
British Airways will invest $110 million to improve its U.S. airport facilities over the next five years. The bulk of that, $65 million, will improve check-in, security checkpoints, gates and lounges at John F. Kennedy International Airport's Terminal 7. British Airways also will improve lounges in Boston, Chicago O'Hare, Houston, Miami, San Francisco and Seattle.

Explore new AA cabins
Click here for virtual cabin tours of the Boeing 777-200 and 777-300  Business Class cabins with direct aisle access and fully lie-flat seats. Also tour the Airbus A321 Transcontinental  with more inflight entertainment, greater connectivity and comfortable seats. Plus, the First Class cabin will make you feel like you're on a private jet.
Branson and startup developing supersonic jet
A Denver-based startup partnering with Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic has unveiled what it says will be a supersonic passenger jetliner. " Sixty years after the dawn of the jet age, we're still flying at 1960s speeds...Concorde's designers didn't have the technology for affordable supersonic travel, but now we do..."
No eye glasses permitted in passport photos
Beginning November 1, 2016, customers must remove their eye glasses when taking a photo for a U.S. passport. Customers may wear eye glasses only in rare circumstances of medical necessity. These customers must obtain a signed statement from a medical professional or health practitioner (such as a surgeon or ophthalmologist) and submit it with their passport application. 
Airlines upgrade service & tech for 2017 
In order to entice more travelers, airlines are reworking their service and updating technology. 
HOTELNEWS
Corinthia London 'neuroscientist in residence'
Starting in November, Corinthia Hotel London is hosting a year-long neuroscientist in residence, Dr. Tara Swart, to research the mental resilience of people across various business sectors. Swart, a leadership coach and a senior lecturer at MIT, will advise staff at the hotel and regular guests and study the mental resilience of each group to analyze how they cope with stress. The data will be included in a study to be published next year that aims to generate insights on maximizing potential by building mental resilience in order to succeed in increasingly stressful work environments. VIP guests will get one-on-one sessions with Swart; four talks will be offered featuring the doctor; and the hotel is promoting "Brain Power Packages" focusing on neuronutrition, sleep, hydration and other factors for guests. Contact your Protravel agent to book.
Which hotel loyalty programs were best in 2016?
According to J.D. Power's 2016 Hotel Loyalty/Rewards Program Satisfaction Report, Hilton's HHonors program tops in overall satisfaction.
ROADLIFE
Travel Leaders Group issued findings on premium air travel bookings, as well as attachment rates for hotel and car bookings.
When and why you need a travel agent
"Studies have shown that the satisfaction of online booking has steadily been going down, while the use of travel advisors has been going up," says Matthew Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso, an international luxury travel agency network with more than 11,400 advisors worldwide.
SOBE has announced the lineup for February's annual star-studded bacchanalia, and the more-than 90 events range from the trendy to the sublime. The premiere event is lavish $500-a-head dinner honoring chef José Andrés, who has twice been named among Time's most influential people. It will be hosted by traveling gourmand Anthony Bourdain and Protravel international is proud to sponsor the incredible travel offerings for the gala's silent auction. Contact your Protravel agent for your place in the sun...
THEGREATESCAPE
Sail the Mediterranean with all-inclusive luxury
The best way to experience the romance of the world's most breathtaking region is with every detail taken care of and every luxurious amenity included. Only Regent Seven Seas Cruises can take you to the Mediterranean in complete comfort and style, beginning with the ultimate inclusion of FREE Business Class Air. And once you embark on your voyage, you may sample delicious wines in Nice, witness the UNESCO World Heritage of Rome's historic city center or catch a riveting Flamenco show in Palma de Mallorca with FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions in every port of call. You really can have it all.  Contact your Protravel agent set sail
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