Welcome to the December 2011 Issue of Travology Today23rd Annual Best in Business Travel Awards 2011 Announced Business travelers have chosen their top picks among providers of travel services at the 23rd Annual Best in Business Travel Awards 2011. The Best in Business Travel Awards are truly the readers’ choice. Travel service providers are nominated and winners selected directly by the subscribers of Business Traveler. During the past six months, every registered print, digital and newsletter subscriber has had the opportunity to voice their choice for the companies they felt offered the best product in a wide range of travel settings – different regions of the world, different types of travel providers, different classes of service. This year’s awards recognized 35 different travel service companies in 54 different categories. Among this year’s Best in Business Travel Awards recipients, 22 were on last year’s winners list. That means there were a lucky 13 newcomers this year.
The Best in Business Travel Award Winners for 2011 are:
Best in Global Travel
Best Airlines by Region
Best-in-Class Air Travel
Best Hotel Experience
Best Loyalty Programs
Best Places to Connect
Best Traveler Tools & Productivity Boosters
Nominations were normalized across all product categories and brands to create consistent naming conventions. Votes were tallied and results authenticated to ensure every vote came only from registered subscribers. To see the complete list, click here. |
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Dietitians Pick Detroit as Healthiest Airport, but Atlanta Falls to Bottom of List
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Hungry travelers can find heart-healthy food in most airport terminals this holiday season, with 83 percent of restaurants in 15 of the nation’s busiest airports now offering at least one low-fat, cholesterol-free meal, according to a new report from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). But healthy food choices are harder to find this year at some airports, including Denver International and Los Angeles International. The number of airport restaurants offering healthy foods has increased sharply from 2001, when PCRM’s inaugural airport food review found just 57 percent of airport eateries offering at least one healthful option. Detroit ranked at the top of the 2011 report for the third year in a row, with a perfect score of 100. That’s a big change from 2001, when Detroit placed at the bottom of the list with only 33 percent of its restaurants offering a healthy option. “Healthy airport food has taken off over the past decade, but there is still room for improvement,” says PCRM nutrition education director Susan Levin, M.S., R.D. “The good news is that healthy vegetarian choices are available now at most airports. But some terminals are still clogged with high-fat, high-cholesterol offerings like pizza and cheeseburgers.” Charlotte-Douglas Airport in Charlotte, N.C., registered the most impressive improvement since last year, with a 9 point increase in the number of restaurants offering a healthy option. Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport moved one place up from the bottom of the rankings with an 8 point improvement over last year. Denver International Airport was the biggest loser, with a six point decrease from last year’s score. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, the world’s busiest airport, gained a point this year, but landed in last place with a score of 71 percent. PCRM dietitians surveyed restaurant meals at 15 major airports in more than a dozen states for the report. They gave each restaurant a point if its menu included at least one low-fat, high-fiber, cholesterol-free vegetarian entrée. The final percentage score was derived by dividing the airport's number of restaurants serving health-conscious fare by its total number of restaurants.
For more information, click here. |
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FAA Announces Alternative Energy Investments For Cleaner, More Sustainable Jet Fuel
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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is awarding $7.7 million in contracts to eight companies to help advance alternative, environmentally-friendly, sustainable sources for commercial jet fuel. The FAA funds are being distributed by the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) John A. Volpe Center. “These new green aviation fuels will use energy sources right here at home,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. “This type of innovation will create good-paying jobs in the airline and energy industries and help protect the environment at the same time.” The contracts address a recommendation issued by the Future of Aviation Advisory Committee, which was commissioned by Secretary LaHood last year. The committee, comprised of experts from industry, academia, labor and government, specifically recommended that DOT exercise strong national leadership to promote and display U.S. aviation as a first user of sustainable alternative fuels. Accordingly, the eight companies selected for the contracts will help the FAA develop and approve alternative, sustainably-sourced “drop-in” jet fuels that can be used without changing aircraft engine systems or airport fueling infrastructure. As part of that work, the companies will develop these biofuels from sources such as alcohols, sugars, biomass, and organic materials known as pyrolysis oils. In addition, the contracts call for research into alternative jet fuel quality control, examination of how jet biofuels affect engine durability, and provide guidance to jet biofuel users about factors that affect sustainability. The contracts build on alternative fuel development investments by the Departments of Defense, Energy, Agriculture, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as by FAA. Today’s contracts stem from work the FAA is doing through the agency’s Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuel Initiative (CAAFI) and the agency’s Continuous Lower Emissions, Energy and Noise (CLEEN) program. These public, academic and private-sector partnerships include approximately 300 stakeholders from the airline, aerospace, energy, research, state and federal governments. A list of the awards is as follows:
More information on CAAFI and CLEEN can be found at: http://www.caafi.org. |
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Air Travel Consumer Report Provides October Results
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Airlines reported a total of seven tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights and 11 tarmac delays of more than four hours on international flights in October, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report. The larger U.S. airlines have been required to report long tarmac delays on their domestic flights since October 2008. Under a new rule that took effect Aug. 23, 2011, all U.S. and foreign airlines operating at least one aircraft with 30 or more passenger seats must report lengthy tarmac delays at U.S. airports. Also beginning Aug. 23, carriers operating international flights may not allow tarmac delays at U.S. airports to last longer than four hours. This is in addition to the three-hour limit on domestic tarmac delays, which went into effect in April 2010. Exceptions to the time limits for both domestic and international flights are allowed only for safety, security or air traffic control-related reasons. All of the domestic tarmac delays longer than three hours and international tarmac delays longer than four hours took place October 29 and involved flights bound for either New York JFK or Newark airports. Nearly all of the tarmac delays took place at airports to which these flights were diverted. All of the reported tarmac delays are under investigation by the Department. On-Time Performance Information filed with BTS (Bureau of Transportation Statistics) shows that the 16 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 85.5 percent in October, up slightly from both the 83.8 percent on-time rate of October 2010 and September 2011’s 83.9 percent rate. Cancellations During October, the carriers canceled 0.77 percent of their scheduled domestic flights, down from October 2010’s 0.97 percent cancellation rate, but equal to September 2011’s 0.82 percent. Causes of Flight Delays In October, the carriers filing on-time performance data reported that 4.60 percent of their flights were delayed by aviation system delays, compared to 5.16 percent in September; 4.60 percent by late-arriving aircraft, compared to 5.24 percent in September; 4.03 percent by factors within the airline’s control, such as maintenance or crew problems, compared to 4.29 percent in September; 0.26 percent by extreme weather, compared to 0.37 percent in September; and 0.03 percent for security reasons, equal to 0.03 percent in September. Weather is a factor in both the extreme-weather category and the aviation-system category. This includes delays due to the re-routing of flights by DOT’s Federal Aviation Administration in consultation with the carriers involved. Weather is also a factor in delays attributed to late-arriving aircraft, although airlines do not report specific causes in that category. Data collected by BTS also shows the percentage of late flights delayed by weather, including those reported in either the category of extreme weather or included in National Aviation System delays. In October, 31.96 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, down 3.33 percent from October 2010, when 33.06 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, and down 11.59 percent from September when 36.15 percent of late flights were delayed by weather. Detailed information on flight delays and their causes is available on the BTS site on the World Wide Web at http://www.bts.gov. Mishandled Baggage The U.S. carriers reporting flight delays and mishandled baggage data posted a mishandled baggage rate of 2.71 reports per 1,000 passengers in October, down from both October 2010’s rate of 2.88 and September 2011’s rate of 2.81. For more information, click here. |
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STR Global: Americas hotel results for November
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The Americas region recorded positive results in the three key performance metrics when reported in U.S. dollars for November 2011, according to data compiled by STR and STR Global. The Americas region ended November with a 4.4-percent increase in occupancy to 56.2 percent, a 4.1-percent gain in average daily rate to US$102.90, and an 8.6-percent jump in revenue per available room to US$57.87. Among the key markets in the region, San Juan, Puerto Rico, reported the largest occupancy increase, up 10.1 percent to 74.0 percent, followed by San Francisco, California, with a 10.0-percent increase to 75.0 percent. Santiago, Chile, fell 6.2 percent in occupancy to 81.5 percent, posting the largest decrease in that metric, followed by Sao Paulo, Brazil, with a 4.9-percent decrease to 72.4 percent. San Francisco rose 19.5 percent in ADR to US$158.42, experiencing the largest increase in that metric, followed by Miami, Florida, with a 13.6-percent increase to US$151.10. Alberta, Canada, reported the largest ADR decrease, falling 1.4 percent to US$125.19. Four markets achieved RevPAR increases of more than 15 percent: San Francisco (+31.4 percent to US$118.78); Miami (+22.4 percent to US$118.58); San Juan (+18.5 percent to US$114.42); and Boston, Massachusetts (+15.3 percent to US$101.52). Santiago fell 3.0 percent in RevPAR to US$140.91, posting the largest decrease in that metric. For more information, click here. |
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Travel Alerts (www.travel.state.gov)
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The United States Government has posted recent travel advisories and warnings for Afghanistan, Algeria, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Cote d’lvoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West bank and Gaza, Kenya, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of South Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen. |
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Leisure Spotlight:
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Riviera Maya: The Resort Destination with Something for Everyone The Mayan Riviera is an unspoiled stretch of coastline running for 75 miles along the Mexican Caribbean. With tranquil waters that glow with numerous shades of blue and the ideal Mayan Riviera weather, visitors can enjoy many types of activities. Some of the state’s largest and most bustling towns and magical refuges, like the all-inclusive Grand Mayan Riviera Maya and Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya resorts, are found along this tourist corridor, which begins in Puerto Morelos and passes through towns like Playa del Carmen; Puerto Aventuras; Akumal; and Tulum, the only archeological site overlooking the Caribbean. The beautiful town of Felipe Carrillo Puerto is at the other end of the corridor and combines Colonial remains with Mayan traditions. Visitors can find small communities with thriving local traditions and countless isolated beaches. Activities include bird watching, open sea or cave diving, horseback riding, snorkeling, visits to natural parks, and swimming in small coves. Many visitors will simply enjoy taking in the area’s natural tropical beauty. Playa del Carmen, in the heart of the region, has seen impressive growth. With a huge number of restaurants, bars, and hotels built by international chains, it caters to young visitors seeking enjoyment and the Caribbean’s crystal clear waters. The Mayan Riviera stretches from Playa del Carmen all the way to Tulum and to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve (“where the sky is born,” in the Mayan language). Across this wide expanse are frequently visited destinations, such as water parks and imposing archeological sites like Coba, home to the tallest Mayan pyramid in Quintana Roo. The Mexican Caribbean boasts many don’t-miss destinations, and Mayan Riviera vacations, with lush vegetation and exciting activities, are perfect for those wishing to get closer to nature. The Riviera Maya provides an impressive choice of accommodations, ranging from large and luxurious oceanfront hotel complexes, some of them operating on an "all-inclusive" basis and luxurious spas with all the necessary amenities for rest and relaxation to smaller hotels and rustic cabins built on the edge of the jungle or facing the sea for those who enjoy being closer to nature. For more information on exclusive benefits we can provide as a Centurion Agency or the American Express Pay with Points program, please contact one of our leisure travel specialists at vacations@dt.com. |
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