Articles of Interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
What Price Loyalty? Something Free
 David Leonhardt
 (A look at the history of frequent flyer programs from the New York Times)

Tom Plaskett was sitting on a flight from Boston to Dallas one day in 1980 with a problem that needed solving. At 36 years old, Mr. Plaskett had just inherited the top marketing job at American Airlines from the famously intense Robert L. Crandall, who had become the company president. Mr. Crandall, like hundreds of other executives before and since, was looking for a way to keep customers loyal to his company. Click Here to continue.

 Follow-Up to April Newsletter Article, Incentive Cruise Expenses Tax-Deductible for Companies?
In our April newsletter we published the following:

Q: My agency has a potential client that is thinking of taking its top customers on a Caribbean cruise on a Bahamas-registered ship. However, my client is worried about the tax-deductibility of such an incentive trip. Would the corporation's expense be tax-deductible? Click Here to continue.

One of our readers brought to our attention, "But what is not mentioned is the very real tax consequence to the recipient,
most particularly if the person is employed by the company, as salespersons normally are".

Response from the Director of our Meeting and Incentive division:
He's right - Incentives can be considered income and the recipient can be sent a w-9 at the end of the year. This is also true for material gain such as cars, jewelry, electronics. I would suggest that the business' CPA decide how and what would need to be reported to the IRS. If people are to be sent a w-9 they should be told on the front end; Some might say thanks but no thanks.
   Airline News

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NWA Cuts Fares For 2 Weekdays
Northwest Airlines Inc. introduced a pricing plan for many of its leisure fares that lowers prices Tuesdays and Wednesdays and raises fares the rest of the week. Click Here to continue.

 

Northwest Tweaks Coach Choice Plan
Citing "customer feedback," Northwest modified its Coach Choice program so that its World-Perks® Elite members won't have to pay extra for exit-row and aisle seats. As rolled out a month ago, the Coach Choice program offered some of these seats for an extra $15, payable at check in. WorldPerks® Elite and SkyTeam Elite members will have access to Coach Choice seats within 24 hours prior to departure at no cost. These seats will be available via Northwest Self-service Check in Kiosks or nwa.com.
 

Northwest Airlines Modifies Unaccompanied Minor Policy
Unaccompanied minor service (UMNR) provides supervision of unaccompanied children ages five (5) through fourteen (14) throughout their travel experience. The UMNR service monitors and assists the UMNR from acceptance into the program until the final release to an authorized person at the UMNR's final destination. Click Here to continue.

Change of Plans? That's Confirmed.
New option for change. Effective April 6, 2006, for a USD $25.00 fee (or equivalent local currency), Continental Airlines will now allow customers holding a Continental restricted fare or OnePass reward ticket the ability to confirm a seat on an alternate flight, to the same destination, on the same day. Seat Confirmation can be made no sooner than 3 hours before and no later than 30 minutes prior to the desired flight time, and is subject to seat availability. Click Here to continue.
 Source: Travel Weekly
   Hotel News

 

 
Marriott To Provide Hotel Folio Data For All But Ritz By Year-End
 Marriott International announced that it is expanding its delivery of hotel folio data to Marriott Rewards members staying at any of its hotels except Ritz-Carlton. Marriott plans to expand the entire program to all of its non-Ritz guests by year-end, becoming the first multi-brand hotel company to make the practice standard. Click Here to continue.

Hilton Kiosks Issue Boarding Passes
 Hilton customized its hotel lobby check-in kiosks to permit guests to print boarding passes for most major airlines, at no charge. The kiosks offer links to the Websites of 18 airlines where guests can check in, change seats, request upgrades and print their boarding pass. Fairmont Hotels pioneered the technology at some of its properties last June.
 Source: Travel Weekly
 
   Car Rental TIPS

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Budget Refueling Charge is Automatic
Please be aware that Budget has a policy in place to automatically charge for refueling if you drive less than 75 miles. If you fill up the tank, you must ask Budget to remove the charge from the rental cost. They will not remove this charge unless you ask. 

International Driving Permits
If you're traveling to an English-speaking country, chances are you'll be able to get by with an American driver's license. However, many other countries will ask that you also obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP), which is basically just a piece of paper that translates your information into 10 different languages and is recognized by over 150 countries. If you are planning to rent a car abroad, you may be asked to present one along with your regular state license. You must be at least 18 years old to get an IDP. Click Here to continue.
  Exceptional Customer Service


Sue Pomeroy & Ashly Pitt

 

 

 

 

 

People are Talking about a & i travel

(E-mail to Ashly Pitt of A & I Travel from Vince Cuciti with Mueller Refrigeration in response to Sue and Ashly's work on negotiating with a hotel to remove a hotel overcharge.)

Dear Ashly,

Thank you Very Much for all the help on this, I am CONSISTENTLY impressed with the service A&I provides!

Respectfully,

Vince P. Cuciti
Mueller Refrigeration

Send your exceptional service experiences to ashley@aitvl.com, we would love to hear from you.
  Did you know

Memphis Special Events Effect Hotel Availability
Memphis hotels are selling out quickly due to the BBQ Festival (May 15-20), FedEx Golf Tournament and Memorial Day Holiday (May 22-28). Book as far in advance as possible. Also, COGIC will be heaviest November 8-13.

Passport Reminder
 Be sure and get your passport by the end of 2006. Part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will go into effect on Dec. 31, 2006 requiring Americans to have a passport or secure document on air and sea travel, to re-enter the United States form Mexico, Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda. A recent survey in the Houston Chronicle listed that fewer than 28-percent of U.S. citizens have a passport.

   Meeting & Incentive Management


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You only get one shot at making a good impression!

Meetings & Incentives are time-consuming and require endless attention to detail from site selection to contract negotiations to logistics. One small oversight can sabotage the success of your event. From Conception to Realization, our professionals will ensure your event makes a lasting positive impression.

For your complimentary consultation please contact:
Karen Young, CTC
Meetings and Incentives Manager
Impressions Corporate Meetings & Incentives (a division of A & I Travel)
901-291-1440 or 800-467-1182
karen@aitvl.com

We Are Expanding
We are excited to announce our newest Impressions Meetings and Incentives team member, Elizabeth Mauney. Elizabeth comes to us with a wealth of experience and talent in meeting planning. She once owned Elizabeth’s Creative Catering & Event Management in Little Rock, AR with over fifteen years of food & beverage, meeting, and event planning experience. She has worked in Memphis doing free lance meeting and event management for the past three years.

Travel & Leisure

Your Cruise Now Comes with Spending Money. And that's not all!

 

 Book an ocean-view stateroom by June 17 to get your
$300 per couple*
shipboard credit

 


Think Russian palaces & private opera concerts, tropical gardens & Creole lunches with our compliments! Meet your gracious host a private champagne and cocktail party. And enjoy exclusive shore events.

 
 
 

Hurry! Call us today for up to 2-for-1 savings!*

* Based on double occupancy; $150 single occupancy. Available with new ocean-view bookings made April17 - June 17, 2006 for select Ensemble Hosted Cruises that complete travel by December 31, 2006 on Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Holland America Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silverseas Cruises, The Yacht of Seabourn or Windstar Cruises.

Call an A & I Travel leisure specialists to make your reservations ASAP as space is limited.
Ask for Joan, Joye, or Rhonda @
901-291-1400 or 1-800-467-1182
vacation@aitvl.com
 

LINKS TO PAST ISSUES

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A & I Travel Service | 5124 Poplar Ave., Suite 101  | Memphis, TN 38117  |  901-291-1400

info@aitvl.com