Welcome to the December 2008 Issue of Travology Today

We at Directravel wish everyone the happiest of holidays and much good luck and prosperity in the coming year.

Directravel today announced the release of its enhanced client portal, My Travology, to allow the user to opt-in to receive Flight Delay Alerts as an SMS/text message to their cell phone in addition to or instead of e-mail notification.

“While some individual airlines may offer this service, our clients can feel comfortable they will receive notification of delays on flights booked through Directravel when they sign up for this service,” said Pat Fragale, president of Directravel. “We are always looking for ways to simplify travel and make it more convenient for our clients, and through the flexibility of the My Travology portal, we have been able to do this.”

Signing up for this service is as easy as checking a box within the Account Information page within the My Travology portal and users can change their preferences at any time. Text messages will only be received for delayed flights. This feature is available for flights on all domestic and many international carriers.

There is no charge from Directravel for this service.

Through the Secure Flight program, the TSA will assume from airlines, responsibility for conducting prescreening of passenger information against federal government watch lists. Initially, airlines with flights operating within the United States will be required to provide the TSA with the following passenger data; in a second phase, international flights will be added:

• Passenger’s full name as it appears on the ID used to pass through airport security
• Date of birth
• Gender
• DHS Redress Number (if available) or Known Traveler Number (if available, once the Known Traveler Program is implemented)

What the rule means to airlines:

Airlines must transmit to the TSA approximately 72 hours prior to departure:

• Specific passenger data described above
• If provided by passenger, passport information and itinerary information

When will the Secure Flight rule go into effect?

TSA will notify each airline of the specific dates by which the airline must be capable of collecting and transmitting the Secure Flight Passenger Data. TSA expects airlines to begin providing passenger names in February 2009.

By assuming watch list matching responsibilities from airlines, TSA will:

• Decrease the chance for compromised watch list data by limiting its distribution
• Provide earlier identification of potential matches, allowing for expedited notification of law enforcement and threat management
• Provide a fair, equitable and consistent matching process across all airlines
• Reduce instances of misidentified and inconvenienced individuals
• Offer consistent application of an expedited and integrated redress process for misidentified individuals via the Department of Homeland Security's Travel Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP)

For more information, Click here.

New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport will become the nation’s first major hub to test a new satellite navigation technology to help reduce flight delays, under an agreement approved by the Port Authority’s board of commissioners.

The technology, called Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS), will help reduce air-traffic control congestion at Newark Liberty by increasing navigational precision compared with traditional radar-based systems. Essentially, planes using GBAS will be able to fly closer together and land more efficiently, without reducing safety.

Such a program will benefit Newark Liberty, which has been plagued for years by congestion and has consistently ranked near the bottom of the nation’s busiest airports in terms of on-time arrivals.

Testing the GBAS technology is part of the Port Authority’s Flight Delay Task Force’s recommendations for alleviating congestion at Newark Liberty and its two other major airports, John F. Kennedy International and La Guardia.

The Port Authority has authorized an estimated $2.5 million to cover the costs and oversee a contract with Honeywell to buy, install and maintain the GBAS system. Honeywell is the only FAA-certified provider of the system.

Continental will invest approximately $1.1 million to outfit 15 planes with GBAS equipment and train pilots to use the system. The FAA has committed as much as $2.5 million to assess the technology and expand its use.

Radar systems utilize radio waves and navigational beacons for aircraft to follow, and they help pilots and air-traffic controllers gauge the altitude, direction and speed of moving planes. Current navigational systems also are radar-based and make it possible for planes to land in varying weather conditions.

While used for decades following World War II and inherently safe, radar is inefficient at busy airports because of the length of spacing necessary between planes.

The technology is particularly beneficial in low visibility landing conditions.

For more information, Click here.

The terrorist attack in Mumbai will prompt short-term cancellations in business travel to India and Pakistan, and initiate long-term interest in hotel security and guest safety on the part of corporate consumers, according to a survey conducted by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE). Nearly half of the 134 international business travel managers who replied to the survey reported that their companies made extensive travel to the region; 48 percent indicated they were curtailing travel to India “until the situation became more settled.” Just seven percent claimed they were doing so indefinitely.

“This response is in keeping with a typical industry reaction,” said ACTE Executive Director Susan Gurley. “Subsequent research has revealed that the majority of travel managers with business in India simply want to make sure that their travelers will not get caught up in street demonstrations or public reprisals, should any occur.” Gurley added that only 7 percent of the survey’s respondents claimed that travelers were requesting not to travel to any destination at this time. An additional 12 percent requested not to travel to India, and another 10 percent extended that request to include Pakistan. Fifty-one percent of respondents indicated their travelers had not made such requests.

Yet the survey revealed that an overwhelming 78 percent of responding travel managers would be seeking a review of their hotel contracts with a greater emphasis on security and guest safety. (Fifty percent of this group said the extent of the review would depend on the region, while the remaining 28 percent would extend the review to all hotels.) Twenty percent reported they were satisfied with the security of their hotel partners.

This last figure corresponds exactly with the same number of respondents (20 percent) who stated their hotel partners already meet high standards in the areas cited for general improvement. Thirty-one percent of respondents said they would be looking for improvements in:

• More detailed coordination with local authorities (police, fire, military) with regard to hotel blueprints and planned assistance
• Staff training for evacuation and assistance
• Back-up communications systems for guests trapped in rooms
• Better surveillance systems

However, the majority of respondents specifically chose the security enhancements they preferred. Twelve percent wanted better security training for hotel staff. Ten percent indicated they wanted better surveillance systems in hotels. Seven percent cited better coordination with emergency services, such as police and fire departments. Four percent supported back-up communications systems for guests trapped in hotel rooms.

For more information, Click here.

Increase in hotel taxes to take effect

San Francisco's hotel owners and operators have approved the Tourism Improvement District (TID) proposed by the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB). San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin also supported the TID as an integral part of the city's economic stimulus efforts. The TID was passed, without opposition, at the final Board of Supervisors meeting for 2008.

The new TID, designed to fund capital improvements, upgrades and expansion analysis for Moscone Convention Center, as well as for the first time ensuring stable and adequate funding for the SFCVB to market San Francisco as the premier destination for conventions and leisure travel, will be an assessment of 1 to 1.5 percent of room revenue for all hotels within San Francisco city limits.

"This Tourism Improvement District is an investment in tourism, San Francisco's number one industry and number one employer," said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. "This TID will not only benefit our local hotels and their employees, but every visitor we welcome into our city. These visitors spent over $8 billion in 2007 and we need to ensure that these same visitors continue to come to San Francisco for both business and pleasure."

"Today, the City and County of San Francisco approved $45 million in funds for Moscone Center improvements. This program will ensure that Moscone is the most state-of-the-art convention center in the nation," said San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin. "Additionally, assessment revenue raised from the hotels is expected to generate $18 million for marketing San Francisco as a destination and $9 million for improvements and upgrades to Moscone Center in the first year alone. This plan will help create jobs and ensure that our tourism economy continues to grow in the future."

The city's tourist hotels will be divided into two zones, based largely on geographic proximity to Moscone Center and the regional and city transportation infrastructure. The 1.5 percent assessment of gross revenue from tourist hotel rooms in Zone 1 will add $3 to the guest folio based on a room rate of $200. The 1 percent assessment of gross revenue from tourist hotel rooms in Zone 2 will add $2 the guest folio based on a room rate of $200. In Aug. 2008 (the last recorded data available from PKF Consulting), the average daily room rate in San Francisco was $186.51. Currently, visitors pay a 14 percent hotel tax.

For more information, Click here.

Curtis W. Fentress, founder of Fentress Architects, has earned international recognition for designing some of the world’s finest airport terminals. These include Incheon International Airport in South Korea (the first airport ever to earn “Best Airport in the World” for three consecutive years, 2005 – 2007, by the Airport Council International’s Quality Passenger Survey), and Denver International Airport in Colorado (named “Best Airport in North America” three consecutive years, 2005 – 2007, by Business Traveler Magazine).

As the gateway between the U.S. and the fast-growing Asia Pacific region, LAX has served millions of international travelers who have experienced the inconvenience of the outdated facilities at the Tom Bradley International Terminal. The Fentress design will provide travelers a modernized terminal and concourse that will dramatically improve passenger experience.

“Los Angeles is one of the world’s centers of entertainment, fashion and international trade,” said Curtis W. Fentress, FAIA, RIBA, Lead Designer. “The airport is the first and last impression travelers have of this great city. Los Angeles deserves a world-class airport that is recognized as a landmark worldwide. This modernized airport will change LAX into L.A. WOW.”

Inspired by the Pacific Ocean, the dynamic design concepts capture the city’s sense of place with rooftops flowing as waves breaking on the shore. The design unifies the airport with a cohesive theme honoring the distinctive arched structure built during the Jet Age of LAX in 1961. Two parabolic arches, forming a pedestrian bridge, are incorporated into the design concept.

Fentress Architects’ design concept is environmentally responsible, and will serve travelers today while honoring the needs and concerns of future generations. The modernization addresses the airport’s goal for a "greener" LAX and its intention to apply for the highest level of LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

More information regarding LAX is available at www.LAWA.org.

American Airlines was recognized by the readers of Business Traveler magazine as the "Best Airline for First-Class Service in North America" for 2008 … Continental Airlines today announced plans for the first biofuel-powered demonstration flight of a U.S. commercial airliner, to be conducted in Houston on Jan. 7, 2009… Delta Air Lines announced that Inflight Internet will be available initially on five MD-88 aircraft flying Delta Shuttle routes between New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Boston’s Logan and Washington’s Reagan airports plus one Boeing 757 flying throughout Delta’s domestic system, with service spreading to other Delta routes as additional aircraft are introduced… Jet Airways, India's premier international airline, and Emirates Airline, the award-winning international carrier with extensive services from India, have announced their partnership plans spanning a reciprocal frequent flyer arrangement and unilateral code share agreement…

in October '08 increased to 86%, up 10.4 points vs. the running 12 month average of 75.6% and up 1.1 points from September’s 84.9%. To view the USDOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics' (BTS) Air Travel Consumer Report, click here.

The United States Government has posted recent travel advisories and warnings for Afghanistan, Algeria, Chad, Colombia, Cote d’lvoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Kenya, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Uzbekistan and Yemen.