August 22, 2023

Direct Travel

News Briefs

August 22, 2023

In This Edition… Dining options via Concur, 2024 per diem rates announced, flight service updates, Delta partners with Wheels Up, TSA expands PreCheck® with Telos Corporation, more on Real ID, ground transport news, hotel updates, and much more!

Dans cette édition… Les expériences gastronomiques avec Concur, les taux d’indemnité journalière pour 2024, des mises à jour sur les services de vol, Delta en partenariat avec Wheels Up, la TSA étoffe le programme PreCheck® en y intégrant la société Telos®, plus d’informations sur Real ID, des nouvelles sur les transports terrestres, des mises à jour sur les hôtels, et bien plus encore!

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What the Rise of the Independent Traveler Means for Your Travel Program

The idea of what it means to travel for work has been redefined thanks in part to hybrid work environments and the continual growth of bleisure travel. Now, a new breed of traveler – known as the independent traveler – has emerged. Read More

Why Your Business Needs a Travel Expense Policy

As the post-pandemic workforce evolves, digital expense reporting has continued to grow in popularity as a method for keeping both employees and budgets on track. Read More


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TripKicks, Dinova Partner to Add Dining Options to Concur

Business Travel News — Business travel technology add-on Tripkicks is partnering with corporate dining network Dinova to enable corporate travelers to see dining options when booking in the Concur Travel Platform. Read More

Hawai‘i Asks Visitors to Postpone Maui Travel Amid Wildfires

Afar Magazine — Nonessential travel to Maui is being strongly discouraged as Maui and the Big Island battle severe blazes. Read More

GSA Hikes 2024 Per Diem, Lodging Allowance

Business Travel News — The U.S. General Services Administration for fiscal year 2024 increased its standard allowable per diem rates for federal travelers by $9 to $166. Read More


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Finnair to Revamp Loyalty Program

Business Travel News — Finnair has partnered with IAG Loyalty to adopt its Avios currency beginning in early 2024. Read More

Aer Lingus Will Fly to Denver for the First Time

Travel Weekly — The Irish airline also will bring back Dublin-Minneapolis service, a move that was quickly matched by Delta. Read More

Delta Joins $500M Lifeline for Wheels Up

Business Travel News — Delta Air Lines and two other investors have provided a $500 million lifeline to Wheels Up, which will give them a 95 percent stake in the private aviation company. Read More

U.S. and China Agree to Double Air Connections

Travel Weekly — Air service between the U.S. and China will be allowed to double by the end of October under a new agreement reached by the countries. Read More

New Flight Routes Launching This Fall

Travel Pulse — Major carriers are expanding their schedules this autumn, adding new routes for college football season and connecting major cities with beloved warm-weather destinations. Read More

Delta, Kenya Airways Further Codeshare

Business Travel News — Delta Air Lines and Kenya Airways have expanded their codeshare partnership to include Kenya Airways’ daily nonstop service between Nairobi and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. Read More

United Airlines Buys More Than 100 Acres to Fuel Denver Airport Expansion

CoStar — United Airlines is clearing the runway for its ongoing Colorado expansion, acquiring more than 100 acres of undeveloped land near Denver International Airport. Read More

Delta to Kick Off 2024 With 1,000 New Flights to Caribbean, Latin America

Travel + Leisure — The airline is adding 30 percent more capacity for the region with more flights to popular destinations such as Costa Rica, San Juan and more! Read More


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Telos Corporation Becomes TSA’s Second Official TSA PreCheck® Enrollment Provider

PR Newswire — Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is expanding TSA PreCheck® with Telos Corporation, which is now offering TSA PreCheck enrollment services at 10 locations. Read More

TSA Changes, Won’t Require CLEAR Members To Show ID

Travel Pulse — The TSA will not require all members of the CLEAR program to produce identification after it had threatened to do so. Read More

Are Americans Prepared for Real ID?

TravelPulse — A new survey shows that while 78 percent of Americans are aware of the Real ID’s implementation, most don’t know the actual implementation date. Read More

Government Travel Warnings & Alerts

U.S. Department of State — Information on current government issued travel warnings and alerts. Read More


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Self-Driving Shuttle Debuts in Orlando

Meetings & Convention — The pilot program offers free rides in a 1-mile loop around downtown. Read More

Amtrak Rolls Out First Electric Bus

Mass Transit — The new EV will be replacing a diesel-powered bus to provide additional connectivity beyond the morning and evening train service between Seattle and Bellingham. Read More


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Marriott and MGM Resorts Partner to Create “MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy”

Travel Market Report — The agreement brings together two of the travel industry’s most well-known brands. Read More

IHG Names New Midscale Brand Garner

Travel Weekly — Garner will be focused exclusively on hotel conversions. IHG said the first hotels will open by the end of the year. Read More

Hyatt Reveals Plans for First Hyatt Studios Hotels

Travel Pulse — The hotel giant had signed letters of interest for more than 100 Hyatt Studios hotels at the brand’s launch back in April but has now confirmed its first two locations will be in Mobile, Alabama and Marysville in Northern California. Read More

IHG Looks to ‘Change Mix’ of Clients, Readies New Brand

Business Travel News — IHG Hotels & Resorts officials Tuesday during the company’s second-quarter earnings call said they could be more selective in sourcing corporate business in request-for-proposals season. Read More

New Tempo by Hilton Brand Launches in New York City Times Square

Travel Pulse — “There is no better place to launch a Hilton brand than in New York City,” said Danny Hughes, president. Americas, for the company, speaking at the opening ceremony for the Tempo by Hilton Times Square, the first location for the new lifestyle brand. Read More

Business Travel Helps Drive Up Rates at IHG

Business Travel News Europe — Returning business travel is driving up rates, while meetings and events bookings have exceeded 2019 levels for six consecutive months. Read More

40 Hotel Renovations Happening in 2023

Northstar Meetings Group — Explore this collection of properties that have completed or will undergo transformations this year. Read More


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Delta Opens Third Sky Club at Boston Logan

Business Travel News — Delta Air Lines has opened a new Delta Sky Club at Boston Logan International Airport. Read More

How to Take a Good Passport Photo

Afar Magazine — Make sure you get your photo right the first time by following these rules about what to wear and how to pose. Read More

Europe Is Launching New Entry Requirements. When Exactly Will Travelers Need to Apply?

Afar Magazine — Europe’s new ETIAS authorization entry procedure is slated to go live sometime in 2024. Here’s what European authorities told us when asked about a specific launch date. Read More

Delta Just Opened a Second Sky Club Lounge at JFK; Here’s a Look Inside

Afar Magazine — Get a sneak peek inside the new Delta Sky Club lounge that’s now open in Terminal 4 at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport. Read More

The 10 Best Priority Pass Lounges in the World, Ranked

Afar Magazine — Within the world’s largest independent airport lounge program, these are the Priority Pass lounges that reign supreme. Read More

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