Welcome to the October 2009 Issue of Travology Today

Based on years of industry knowledge and experience, Directravel CEO and Chief Travologist, Vince Vitti, wrote a new book entitled Travology, Managing Travel Thru the Great Recession.

Travology was written as a guide for business executives to reduce travel expenses and maximize business development through these challenging financial times.

Included in the book:

• Nine Steps for Managing Travel
• Tips on evaluating T&E Policy and Procedures
• Details on closely Examining Expense Reports and Receipts
• Information on the Art of Travology

Joe Sharkey of the New York Times did an interview with Vince, which can be found online click here.

If you are interested in receiving a copy of Travology, please e-mail gboyer@dt.com. There is no charge to clients for this book.

Despite a challenging economy and concerns over the H1N1 flu, Americans' plans to visit family and friends this holiday season have not been diminished.

Holiday travelers predict they'll be out in numbers that rival last year's exodus and are taking advantage of travel deals and other dollar stretchers in order to make holiday dreams a reality. That's according to a new survey released today by the world's largest travel insurance and travel assistance company, Mondial Assistance. The survey, conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs, found that six in ten (61%) respondents say they remain confident they will take a holiday trip this year, with a 'trip' being defined as spending at least one night away from home.

The proportion of Americans planning to travel this holiday season is up slightly from the number who reported they took a trip last year, when 59% reported spending at least one night away from home during the 2008 holidays.

Waving off the attention that has been placed on the H1N1 flu virus, almost all (94%) Americans surveyed said that they will not change their holiday travel plans due to concerns about H1N1. Just 5 percent have changed their plans as a result of the so-called 'swine flu.' That travel appears to be holding steady is likely a function of the fact that six in ten (61%) Americans say taking an annual holiday trip is important to them. In fact, among those who say it's important, eight in ten (78%) are confident they'll take a holiday trip, meaning that only 22 percent of Americans who say holiday travel is important will likely face the prospect of not taking a trip.

When asked whether they are changing their holidays plans compared to previous years due to the economy, six in ten (58%) said they are not changing their plans for that reason. Those who say they have changed their plans due to the economy are still confident they will take some sort of trip this year, suggesting that of those changing their plans, many are taking advantage of low-priced travel deals or otherwise finding ways to save money, instead of canceling their trips altogether.

For more information, click here.

The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) released this month 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:

With air travel and car rental costs expected to remain nearly flat and hotel rates expected to decline, businesses expect to travel more. That growth in travel is expected to lead to increases in travel expenditures.

• Nearly 7 in 10 (69%) of travel managers responding to an NBTA survey expect business travel volume to grow in 2010.
• 56 percent of travel managers project their total travel spend to increase in 2010; another 31 percent expect their total travel spend to remain flat year over year.

Travel and meetings buyers also expect to see an easing of travel & meeting reductions in 2010. Compared to the previous year, the percentage of travel managers expecting to see cuts has gone down in the following areas: number of meetings (-27%), non-essential travel and conference (-20%) and event attendance (-15%).

NBTA President & CEO, Craig Banikowski, CCTE, C.P.M., CMM, said, "Travel management is once again quickly responding to shifting business cycles to help companies optimize their travel investments to maximize profits. As the economic recovery begins taking hold in 2010, companies will take advantage of low travel costs to send employees on the road in greater volumes, thus fueling the recovery."

Banikowski continued, "The uptick in business travel in 2010 will take place within the framework of a new corporate culture in terms of travel. In the 'new normal,' we see stronger travel mandates, greater use of pre-trip approval and audits, tighter restrictions on premium class travel, more focus on travel ROI, and enterprise-wide strategic meetings management."

In the new business travel environment, corporate travel managers expect to drive good values with preferred travel suppliers:

• 70 percent of buyers expect to negotiate better hotel discounts for 2010.
• More than 30 percent forecast better discounts with airlines, and car rental companies.

For more information, click here.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced more than $355 million in funding for more than a dozen airport security projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“These state-of-the-art technologies will bolster security and increase efficiency for both travelers and employees,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Investing Recovery Act funds in these critical airport projects will create jobs in local communities while strengthening our efforts to guard against terrorism.”

Secretary Napolitano announced approximately $254 million in ARRA funds for inline baggage handling systems at six airports—including Washington Dulles International Airport ($154 million); Mineta San Jose International Airport ($20.9 million); San Antonio International Airport ($14.4 million); Portland (Maine) International Jetport ($9.2 million); Port Columbus International Airport ($35.2 million); and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ($20 million).

Inline baggage handling systems eliminate the need for passengers to walk checked baggage to a screening location and wait before proceeding to the security checkpoint, incorporate enhanced explosive detection technology to provide on-screen viewing capabilities for TSA officers conducting baggage screenings and reduce the number of re-scans and physical bag searches

In addition, Secretary Napolitano announced approximately $38 million in ARRA funds to support new and enhanced closed circuit television (CCTV) systems, which enhance surveillance capabilities at six airports—including Chicago Midway International Airport ($2.7 million); Little Rock National Airport/Adams Field ($5.9 million); Kansas City International Airport ($9.4 million); Omaha Eppley Airfield Airport ($3.6 million); Washington Dulles International Airport ($8.1 million); and Tampa International Airport ($8.1 million).

Secretary Napolitano also announced approximately $37 million in ARRA funds for the purchase and installation of multiple additional checkpoint technologies—including $15 million for Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) units, which detect traces of explosives; and $22 million for Bottled Liquid Scanners (BLS), a technology that screens medically necessary liquids such as infant formula and liquid medications to ensure they do not contain a threat.

More than $25 million will fund the purchase and deployment of approximately 150 backscatter advanced imaging units to airports across the nation—designed to bolster security by quickly screening passengers for concealed threats of all kinds without physical contact. This deployment follows a successful pilot phase, during which 46 imaging technology units were deployed at 23 airports and passengers opted to use imaging technology for primary screening 99 percent of the time.

In awarding ARRA funds, DHS prioritizes shovel-ready projects that infuse resources into local economies quickly while meeting critical security needs. DHS has obligated more than 50 percent of its ARRA funds to date—more than $1.5 billion.

ARRA, signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 19, committed more than $3 billion for homeland security projects through DHS and the General Services Administration (GSA). Of the $1 billion allocated to TSA for aviation security projects, $700 million was dedicated to screening checked baggage and $300 million was allocated for checkpoint explosives detection technology and closed circuit television systems.

To learn more about the DHS Recovery Act projects, visit www.dhs.gov/recovery.

Kitty Bean Yancy, writer for USA Today, recently published a timely article about the woes of traveling with crammed overhead compartments. It is excerpted below:

American Airlines flight attendant Gailen David dreads the pre-takeoff ritual that's becoming as irksome as taking shoes off at security checkpoints.

Passengers laden with carry-ons resemble a scene from Survivor or The Amazing Race. They scramble to stow gear before others fill overhead bins, drag bags heavier than allowed, slip aboard with more than the two items typically permitted — and clip seatmates while cramming in belongings.

Because the number of flights has decreased and planes are flying fuller, and because major U.S. carriers…now charge fees of $15 and up to check a bag, planes' overhead bins are bulging.

"The worst we've seen in the past couple of decades," says Corey Caldwell, spokeswoman for the Washington, D.C.-based Association of Flight Attendants. The Transportation Security Administration and carriers don't track carry-ons, Caldwell says, "but many more people are flying on the average flight, and the bins are filling up faster than before."

The problem has become so pressing since major airlines began imposing fees for the first checked bag on domestic flights in mid-2008 that Congress is considering legislation to limit and standardize carry-on size and ensure enforcement at TSA airport checkpoints.

"It's a fight for the overheads," says veteran flight attendant David, who answers questions about luggage and more on his website, dearskysteward.com. By the time the last boarding group races for space in the compartments on a typically packed flight, "everyone has started to panic," he says. Some passengers are left standing in the aisle with no place to put their belongings.

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Ask a flier about the carry-on crunch, and you'll get an earful. When USA TODAY solicited gripes, the stories poured in.

Retiree Bob Heavenrich of Ann Arbor, Mich., hates what he calls "gate lice" — passengers who clog the front of the boarding area, impeding others, so they can rush the plane when their zone is called. The goal: Get bags in bins and avoid having them taken and checked at the plane door. (Winners in boarding wars are premium and very frequent fliers, who get on first and are guaranteed compartment space.)

"The airlines have brought this on all by themselves by charging for checking bags," says pilot Harlan Weinberger, 51, of Milwaukee. He is annoyed by passengers jerking "heavy, cumbersome bags out of the overheads" and hitting people with them. "Selfish 'me, me, me' people."

David Brown, 63, of Birmingham, Ala., is bothered by early-boarding passengers with seats in the rear who stow carry-ons "in the first available compartment in the front of the plane." Other travelers tell of hating to help seatmates hoist overfilled cases; flight attendants beg in vain over the PA system for passengers to store small items under seats rather than in bins.

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Bags deemed too large at the boarding gate, or checked when there's no room on the plane, fly free — a fact that has not escaped a growing number of travelers.

"Gate-checked bags are usually the last ones loaded into the baggage compartment, the first ones out, and generally the first ones on the (baggage) carousel," flier Brown complains. "There should be an inconvenience penalty for gate-checked bags."

Says consultant/business analyst Kevin McKeen, 51, of Austin, a frequent business traveler: "Airlines need to double the fees for gate-checked bags, because it holds up the boarding process and delays departure. Learn how to pack, people!"

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To read the full article, click here.

American Airlines announced that it will re-launch its nonstop, year-round service between Washington's Dulles Airport and Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, effective Nov. 19…The CEOs of the Star Alliance member carriers welcomed the alliance's 25th member: Continental Airlines. Continental's joining Star Alliance will further enhance the alliance's three main customer benefits: global reach, worldwide recognition and seamless travel…Delta Air Lines expanded its BusinessElite service from New York-JFK this week by placing its international Boeing 757-200ER aircraft on transcontinental flights to Los Angeles. BusinessElite service between JFK and San Francisco are scheduled to start Oct. 24… KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is celebrating is 90th anniversary this month nine decades after being founded on Oct. 7, 1919 for the Netherlands and its colonies. KLM is the oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name. Air France, which merged with KLM five years ago, is celebrating its 76th anniversary this year…SkyTeam, the global travel alliance, unveiled its spacious, customer-focused facility at Terminal 4 at London Heathrow airport…

in August '09 increased to 79.7%, up 0.5 points vs. the running 12 month average of 79.2% and up 2.1 points from July’s 77.6%. 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, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’lvoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Georgia, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Kenya, Lebanon, Mali, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Uzbekistan and Yemen.