Articles of Interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vaccines: Recommended or Required?
The possibility of a worldwide avian influenza raises important questions for corporations. For instance, can (and should) they require travelers to be inoculated against various diseases or outbreaks? And what liability, if any, does the company have should an employee contract such a disease during a business trip? Click Here to continue.

FAA's Crystal Ball: Air traffic to Climb Through 2017
Traffic on U.S. airlines will grow by an average of 3% a year through 2017 and top 1 billion passengers by 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration predicted in its annual 12-year forecast.

So when will U.S. airline profits catch up? That’s a question the FAA couldn’t answer, nor could the airlines that participated in the annual forecast conference here, although one speaker was very succinct in identifying the challenge. Click Here to continue.

   Airline News

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fly Pan Am Between Atlanta and Tunica
Scheduled Non-Stop Air Service Is Coming to Tunica May 2nd, 2006
Destination Tunica and Pan Am Clipper Connection announced the launch of regularly scheduled non-stop jet service between the Tunica Airport and Hartsfield - Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, beginning May 2. The new commercial air service is the first for Tunica since the recent expansion of its airport. The new schedule currently calls for three flights per week on Pan Am Clipper’s fleet of 141-seat Boeing 727 jets, branded as the Pan Am Clipper Connection.
Source: Cuthbertson Media

 

Northwest to Expand Seat-Fee Offers
Northwest Airlines' 3-week-old program charging passengers $15 to reserve seats with extra legroom on domestic flights has surpassed the carrier's expectations. So this summer, Northwest will ask travelers headed to Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean if they want to pay to secure exit-row or aisle seats. Northwest, in a message to workers Tuesday, said the program is to bring in at least $15 million in revenue a year. Click Here to continue.
 

 

Northwest to launch Compass Airlines by June
Northwest Airlines said it hopes to get its new regional jet subsidiary in the air as early as June, according to a filing that lays out its plans for the new airline for the first time. The subsidiary would be called Compass Airlines and could have as many as 36 smaller jets flying within five years, according to a Northwest filing this week with the U.S. Department of Transportation. Click Here to continue.
Source: NWA

 

Delta Air Lines Update
New route of non-stop service between Boston and Savannah, Ga., and between Boston and Nashville, Tenn. Beginning April 3, Delta Connection carrier Comair will offer customers one daily roundtrip flight in each market. Click Here for flight schedules.
Source: Delta Air Lines
 

American Airlines Began Service from Chicago O'Hare to Shanghai, China on April 2

American Airlines has launched daily nonstop service from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Shanghai Pu Dong International Airport in Shanghai, China. Flight Features Include Chinese-Based Cuisine and Entertainment. The daily nonstop service will depart Chicago's O' Hare International Airport at 11:05 a.m. and arrive at Shanghai's Pu Dong International Airport at 2:15 p.m. the following day, local time. Returning, American's flight departs Shanghai at 4:25 p.m., arriving in Chicago at 5:00 p.m. of the same day, local time.
Source: American Airlines

   Hotel News

 

 

 

 

Marriott Adopts What You See is What You Get Online Policy
Marriott will start quoting its rates inclusive of taxes and fees. The report says that this move is directed against major online agencies that often quote prices before taxes and fees.
Source: Travel Weekly
 

Hilton to Build Convention Hotel
Hilton has disclosed plans to manage a 1,400 room convention hotel to open in 2009 near Orlando's Orange County Convention Center. Hilton is also a minority partner in a joint venture to develop the site. The 18-story hotel will offer direct access to the convention center's North Concourse through a pedestrian sky bridge, Hilton said. Facilities are expected to include 52 suites and 130,000 square feet of meeting space and a 15,000 square-foot spa and fitness center. Construction is to start this year.
Source: Travel Weekly

Rockefeller Center Gets its First Hotel
The first hotel at New York's Rockefeller Center is slated to open in May. The 80-room Rockefeller Center Hotel, to occupy the first six floors of a new 25-story building at 25 W. 51st St., will be managed by Club Quarters.
Source: Travel Weekly

   Car Rental TIPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AVIS Awarded Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Leaders for 2005
The Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Leaders for 2005 are out. To view the complete list please visit  www.brandkeys.com/awards/leaders.cfm . Google was #1 in 2005 with Avis at #2 !! (No other car rental company is listed in the Top 31)
Source: Avis

Avis Offers Complimentary XM Satellite Radio in Premium and Luxury Rentals
Take to the roads with a GM vehicle, such as a Cadillac DeVille, Buick LeSabre or Pontiac Bonneville, and enjoy the power to choose what you want to hear -  wherever and whenever you want it. Simply rent a premium or luxury car with Avis and the service is free.
Source: Hertz

  Exceptional Customer Service

 

 

 

People are Talking about a & i travel

Hi Ashley,

I just wanted you and A&I Travel to know how much I enjoyed this newsletter. Unlike many others, it provided me with several valuable tips and information. Thank you for taking the time to develop something I will use.

Keep them coming!

Thanks,

Gretchen
Market Vision

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

  Did you know

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

A & I Travel Customer Service Connection
A&I Travel has a customer relations email that we encourage you to use to let us know of any comments, concerns, travel issues or accolades concerning any part of your travel arrangements. We strive to exceed your expectations each and every time you begin your travel arrangements until you return home safe and sound. Click Here to continue.

On Call
For a monthly fee plus $35 per consultation, TelaDoc's 24/7 on-call network of primary care physicians will consult, diagnose and prescribe medications for business travelers via cell phone, land line or Blackberry. For more details visit www.teladoc.com.

Shortcut Included in Copter Trips to JFK
A new helicopter service has begun whisking passengers from Wall Street to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport — and passengers will get to skip airport security lines. That's because the federal government is sending airport screeners and explosive-detection equipment to the Lower Manhattan heliport so passengers and their bags can be checked before being delivered to the airport. It marks the first time the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has done screening at a heliport since the agency took over airport security after 9/11. Click Here to continue.

   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

Are Incentive Cruise Expenses Tax-Deductible for Companies?
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.

Travel & Leisure

Say goodbye to stress in the sun-kissed isles of the Caribbean with Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Grand Princess, and Sun Princess. Stunning coastlines  along the Mexican Riviera in the company of Dawn Princess or Diamond Princess. Spellbinding innovations through the Panama Canal aboard Coral Princess. We invite you to experience the perfect warm-weather escape with Princess Cruises.
Choose journeys from 7 to 11 days, departing Ft. Lauderdale, Galveston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, or San Juan.   A & I  Exclusives
*$120-value onboard Princess Coupon Book on designated sailings.
*Per Person stateroom fare for June through December sailings begin at just $599 for Inside, $759 for Outside, and $849 for Balcony.   *Up to $100 per stateroom shipboard credit on selected sailings.

  *Complimentary wine with dinner or candid shipboard photo on designated sailings.

Book April 15 - May 15, 2006

*Click Here for Terms & Conditions

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

 

Please note: We have added many new email addresses to our Corporate Travel Newsletter distribution list. We strive to keep you informed with travel news and hope you find this newsletter useful and informative. If you would prefer to not receive this newsletter please email tanya@aitvl.com and  you will  be removed from the distribution list.

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