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Welcome to the inaugural issue of Travology™ Today, Directravel's monthly newsletter, formerly VTS Business Travel News You Can Use. Featuring current travel industry trends and information, we hope that you continue to find the articles useful and relevant. If you have any suggestions for issues you'd like to see discussed, to have someone added or deleted from our e-mail list or for general newsletter questions, please e-mail us at newsletter@dt.com.

Deadline postponed for land and sea boarder crossings to June 1, 2009,

Arising out of the 9/11 commission recommendations, WHTI will require all US citizens and visitors to present a passport or acceptable substitute document for entry into the United States from any country in the Western Hemisphere. The measure was set to roll out over a series of dates from January 8, 2007 through January 1, 2008. The confusion surrounding varying dates for differing modes of transportation, the lack of an effective plan for communicating the changes and the absence to date of a widely available, affordable alternative to the passport combined to make WHTI a threat to the economic activity generated by business travel between the United States and other Western Hemisphere nations, the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) reported recently.

NBTA President and CEO, Suzanne Fletcher said, "The changes to WHTI passed in the 2007 Homeland Security appropriations bill ameliorate the travel industry's concerns with WHTI by postponing the deadline for land and sea border crossings to June 1, 2009. NBTA is pleased the Congress came to a resolution that will protect the intent of the program to secure our nation's borders without significantly damaging the free conduct of commerce..."

The requirements of WHTI stipulate that approved alternative documents can be used in lieu of a passport for entry into the US. One such alternative document, the People Access Security Service (PASS Card), was jointly announced earlier this year by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State (see below).

Please note that the extension of the timeline applies only to land and sea crossings. Those traveling by air will still be required to have a passport by the January 8, 2007 deadline. It has been recommended by ASTA, the American Association of Travel Agents, as well as others that despite the extension, a passport or approved alternative documentation be obtained as soon as possible.

For more information, click here.
Information about ASTA's recommendations can be found here.

To meet the documentary requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), the Department of State, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), announced October 17 and submitted for public comment a federal rule proposing the development of a card-format passport for international travel by U.S. citizens through land and sea ports of entry between the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

The limited-use passport card will be adjudicated to the same standards as a traditional passport book. The rule proposes a wallet-sized card that would cost $10 for children and $20 for adults, plus a $25 execution fee.

To facilitate the frequent travel of those living in U.S. border communities and those traveling on commercial maritime vessels, the Department of State has committed to producing a passport card that incorporates cutting-edge technology. The technology incorporated in the proposed card was designed in coordination with DHS specifically to address the operational needs of land border-crossings. The proposed passport card would use long-range, or vicinity, radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to link the card to a secure U.S. government database containing biographical data and a photograph. The card itself will not contain any personal information, and DHS will implement protections to keep the database secure.

The passport card is the core element of the PASS (People Access Security Service) System announced by Secretaries Rice and Chertoff in January 2006, and will secure and expedite travel to and from the United States.

The proposed rule is available for public viewing and comment until December 18 at www.regulations.gov (search for keyword "card format").

There is still some ongoing confusion about what is allowed in carry-on bags, as regulated by the TSA. As of September 26, the most current information is:

• Travelers may carry through security checkpoints travel-size toiletries (3 ounces or less) that fit comfortably in one quart-size, clear plastic, zip-top bag.
• After clearing security, travelers can bring beverages and other items purchased in the secure boarding area on-board aircraft.

The TSA also offers the following trips to make passing through security less cumbersome:

• De-clutter your carry-on bag. This provides a clear, uncomplicated X-ray.
• When possible, keep packing liquids in checked baggage.
• Limited quantities of what is needed for the duration of the flight.

For more information, click here.

The results are in.

Travel + Leisure readers recently ranked their 2006 top hotel preferences for business travel, both domestically and internationally.

The Top 10 Hotels overall:

The Top 10 Hotels for the US:

For more information or to see the full list, click here.

While traveling for business is second nature for many of us, in today's travel climate, it is often prudent to remind ourselves of the basics of travel safety.

PInow.com offers the following tips:

• Get past the language barrier. Invest in a good phrase book or take classes.
• Take only what you need and keep it with you. Keep your wallet, laptop and ID close. Keep track of car keys and hotel room keys.
• Watch out for common ploys and schemes. A hotel concierge can help.
• Know where to turn for help. Keep a list of local contacts in your wallet. Register with the embassy or consulate.
• Be careful who you trust. Criminals often pose as someone non-threatening.
• Use locks and keys on your luggage, hotel rooms, hotel room windows, cars, etc.

For more information, click here.

For the ninth year in a row, Continental Airlines outranked all of its U.S. competition in international Business Class service according to results of a survey of Conde Nast Traveler readers published in the magazine's October 2006 edition. Overall rankings were determined using a variety of criteria including Seat Comfort/Legroom, Food, Cabin Service, Amenities/Technology, Airport Lounge Clubs and Frequent Flier Privileges. Continental's renowned BusinessFirst service has topped the international premium-class service offered by the airline's U.S. peers in the Conde Nast Traveler rankings since 1998. BusinessFirst also won the Best Executive/Business Class award in the OAG Airline of the Year Awards in 2005, 2004 and 2003, based on voting by frequent flyers worldwide.

Delta Air Lines, The Official Airline of the New York Mets, will take Wright to new heights- naming one if its aircraft "The Wright Flight". "The Wright Flight" moniker, including Wright's name, number and signature, will be affixed adjacent to the boarding door of the aircraft for tens of thousands of Delta customers and sports fans to view it as they board the plane. Delta is dubbing the plane" The Wright Flight" to celebrate The Mets' phenomenal season, Wright's success and to further demonstrate the airline's commitment to one of its most important hubs, New York City...Delta Air Lines invites International Business Class customers to experience their fully-horizontal personal sleeper suite on the Boeing 777-to be ready in early 2008...and reveals their new, signature pink plane to increase Breast Cancer awareness and raise funds for research in the search for a cure.

United has taken an innovative approach to the boarding process and has just become the first and only airline in the world to operate a fully automated dual-end jet bridge. Based on the latest technology, the over the wing loading bridge enables passengers to board and deplane simultaneously from the front and rear doors on narrow-body aircraft –effectively cutting in half the boarding and deplaning time for United customers at Gate B15 at the Denver International Airport. The airline expects to expand the use of the dual end jet bridge to additional gates and other airports in the near future...United Airlines' Hemispheres won "Best Inflight Magazine" at World Airline Entertainment Association 18th Annual Avion Awards

Airline on-time performance: in August '06 increased to 75.8%, down 1.2 points vs. the running 12 month average of 77%, and up 2.17 points from July's 73.7%. To view the USDOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics' (BTS) Air Travel Consumer Report , click here.

Updated-U.S. State Department Alerts

Sudan-This Travel Warning reminds U.S. Citizens of the continued threat of terrorism in Sudan and notes restrictions on travel by American citizens outside Khartoum. This supersedes the Travel Warning issued for Sudan on August 31, 2006. The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens against all travel to Sudan, particularly in the Darfur area where there is a continuing buildup of Government and rebel military forces and where violence has increased significantly, and to remind travelers that the U.S. Government has received indications of terrorist threats aimed at American and Western interests in Sudan. Terrorist actions may include suicide operations, bombings, or kidnappings.

As a result of violence and banditry, the United Nations has declared many parts of Darfur "NO-GO" areas for UN personnel. Due to the potential for banditry and general lawlessness in rural areas, land travel at night should be avoided. On October 1, the Government of Sudan announced that the movements of all U.S. citizens visiting Sudan would be restricted to a 25 mile radius of the Republican Palace in Central Khartoum. The Sudanese government has not clarified whether Americans who have valid travel permits and plan to travel outside Khartoum should check with local authorities. U.S. citizens who travel to Sudan despite this Travel Warning are strongly urged to register with the Embassy in Khartoum or through the State Department's Travel Registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov.

Other warnings: Sri Lanka, Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Iran, Sudan, Uzbekistan, Lebanon, Syria and Chad. For more information click here.