Travel Industry

Various sources are anticipating that the year will end on a good note in terms of overall travel. Though it has presented to be challenging at some times or in certain sectors, overall this has been a better year than anticipated. Not to say that it’s the best ever, but the demand at the busy [...]

It’s almost the New Year, and that means it’s time for some predictions. As the travel industry wraps up a very adventurous and sometimes tumultuous year, there are many new predictions heading into 2010. Not only is this the start of a new year, but also of a new decade. This means that there are [...]

It’s that time of year again when so many people will feel the need to get away from it all. After a busy holiday season and the “blahs” of winter setting in, it’s no wonder that people want to just get away from it all. If you are like the many people out there that [...]

Though there seems to be disagreement amongst even the most well informed, the consensus across the board is the any recovery within the U.S. travel industry may be modest at best. With the economy still quite weak within the United States, many speculate that there may be some sort of recovery within 2010 but that [...]

In the quake of the astonishing 4000,000 jobs lost in the travel industry in 2008 – 2009, replacing 90,000 positions is a good sign that the economy is regaining its strength. With business travel, leisure travel and international travel to the United States all expected to rise by at least two percent during 2010 these [...]

Amidst new surveys within the travel industry, there are certain trends that continue to show up. Amongst them is a focus for travel companies of all kinds working to increase customer loyalty. Though this is not a new concept or theory amongst travel companies, it has never been more important. While travelers have many different [...]

As the issue always seems to come up in the height of the travel season, this all comes at a great time. Though many travelers have suffered through long and drawn out wait times on the tarmac, a new rule puts a limit on how long that delay can be. Rather than sitting on the [...]

Las Vegas has always been a popular travel destination. Though the travel industry tried a few years back to turn it into a family friendly travel destination, this didn’t last long. It will always be the “adult playground” and that’s what brings people back year after year. Though it’s always been popular, within the last [...]

Though many people think that Thanksgiving makes up the busiest time of the year, that may not be the case anymore. Though many people used to travel home for some turkey and family time, the average traveler is choosing alternate times of year to make it home. While Thanksgiving is still in the top five, [...]

As the winter season is upon us, that means that there are a few inevitable things to look forward to. The holidays are of course one major milestone, but for many others winter means much more. The ski season is in full effect, and that brings great news to those who like to hit the [...]

There’s no doubt that social media has changed the way that we do things. Not only has it proven to be a novel way of communicating, but it has also evolved into a rather practical business tool. For those companies that are progressive enough to see the value in social media, they are reaping the [...]

Bigmouthmedia’s travel report for the 2010 season shows that many travel companies are planning an aggressive on-line campaigning strategy for next year.
Marketing is a huge part of any company’s ability to prosper. The report shows that travel companies plan to increase the amount of on-line marketing by as much as fifty percent.
“There can be little [...]

Kenya Airports Authority in conjunction with SITA announced a ten year, $26.7 million agreement to upgrade the passenger processing system at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi and Moi International Airport (MIA), Mombasa, the countries two international gateways.
Passengers traveling to Kenya have never been afforded the luxury of self-check in before. Thirty-seven different airlines will [...]

As the world economy continues to struggles with the effects of the recession, more people than ever are starting to learning the true meaning behind that old adage “A penny saved is a penny earned”, and with the holiday season almost in full swing every penny saved is a plus.
The holidays can be really expensive, [...]

The up and coming holiday season may not be so merry for some holiday travelers. Between the overcrowded planes, and the additional fees for just about everything you could imagine, it’s definitely not the best time of year to be in the air.
“It will be worse than last year – fewer seats, higher (passenger loads) [...]

Though some believe the recession is over, other are still feeling the effects of it on a daily bases. As such, making ends meet is a top priority. For those consumers that plan to travel this holiday season, finding a good rate is of the utmost importance if they are going to stay within their [...]

If you are a member of the U.S. Customs FAST Program, you are familiar with the ease with which you can cross into and out of Canada and the United States. Having a FAST card is a plus when travelling and transporting goods across the border. Starting in January of 2010, however, the old FAST [...]

The cost of traveling is always a concern for consumers. Where can they find the best deals? What is the cheapest mode of transportation? Will things be cheaper or more expensive this year than they were last year? These are the types of questions that many people grapple with as they prepare to make their [...]

American and Chinese tourism officials continue their efforts to grow travel relations between the two countries. For the third time, officials from both countries gathered together to look at the opportunities before them, and to explore how they can jointly strengthen and expand international travel between their prospective countries.
The two-day Orlando summit drew representation from [...]

Whether you’re a small business owner or you work for a large conglomerate, business travel can be a huge factor in helping a business to grow. Though the quickest, and often the most used, form of travel is by the airways, trimming your business travel expenses no matter which mode of travel you choose is [...]

This is the time of year that people travel more than any other. In fact, for some people this is the only time of year they travel any substantial distance from their homes. Choosing how to get from point A to point B, and save the most money at the same time, is a sign [...]

Although Amtrak announced that its ridership had decreased by more than one million passengers over the past year, the total number of passengers riding the rails was still the second highest number in the railroad’s history.
Amtrak reported that it transported 27.2 million passengers over the past twelve months that ended on September 30, 2009. The [...]

Just because something is labeled as a sale, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good deal. Take, for instance, the latest sales that Southwest Airlines has marketed with regard to airfares.
Southwest Airlines has long been considered to be the nation’s leader in low-budget air travel. With one-way coast-to-coast tickets as low as $99.00, and round trip [...]

Leaders in the travel industry meet in Washington to discuss current issues that are impacting the travel industry. Among them are the H1N1 flu epidemic, how to prepare for it, as well as ways to invite more international visitors in the country.
The gathering was one more piece of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus’ continuing [...]

Although there are areas of the travel industry that seem to be hard hit by these tough financial times, on-line travel companies are weathering the storm quite well.
PhoCusWright Inc., in partnership with Compete Inc., conducted a study of travel web sites. The Online Traffic and Conversion Report shows that monthly traffic and conversion activity [...]

The most recent travelhorizons survey reported that although American travelers know what green travel means, they aren’t ready to embrace it; or at the very least, they won’t pay extra out-of-pocket in order to support it.
The terms ‘carbon footprint’ and ‘green travel’, aren’t new to Americans. For decades, practically every sector of the country, or [...]

If you’ve ever sailed with Holland America Line you’ll appreciate the new incentive program they’ve recently launched. From onboard discounts and special rates on select cruises, to reduced or free third and fourth rates that apply when you book future travels with the Holland America Lines, past guests will really have something to look forward [...]

Today Visa Inc.’s Tourism Outlook: South Africa report, reveals that international cardholder spending is on the rise in South Africa. This increased spending is a continuation of upward spending from 2008.
In 2008 Visa network realized an eleven percent increase from 2007 in the number of international transactions to South Africa. Thirteen million transactions were made [...]

Currently there is only one high-speed corridor in the United States. That could change, however, if the president’s plan to hasten the development of high-speed rail (HSR) is implemented. The plan includes upgrading existing railways, and creating new rail lines that will accommodate high-speed trains in a number of corridors across the country.
Acela, Amtrak’s only [...]

The Marketing Outlook Forum, held in Little Rock, Arkansas this year, is where many businesses in the travel and tourism industry will get their first look at future projects with regard to their trade industry. Companies that specialize in different aspects of travel will learn about what they can expect in the up-and-coming future.
Dr. Suzanne [...]

In a 79 – 19 vote, the United States Senate passed the Travel Promotion Act (S. 1023), one more step to further efforts to promote the United States as a premier travel destination.
The act will create new jobs, draw millions of visitors into the country, and help to strengthen the economy, and as a result, [...]

The latest American Express Global Business Travel Forecast indicates that airfare in the business class sector is projected to increase by the end of 2010.
Using telepresence and teleconference technologies, eXpert insights, hired by American Express Business Travel’s Global Advisory Services, reported that business class airfares are expected to rise as a result of diminished capacity [...]

If you’re still waiting for the travel industry to stop its downward spiral, it looks as if you won’t have to wait anymore. The most recent numbers and percentage from a host of surveys indicate that the travel industry’s freefall may be coming to an end. Recent analytical reports from Piper Jaffray and Citibank strongly [...]

Crystal Cruises, one of the world’s most affluent luxury cruise lines, has announced that it has reviewed, and re-priced, the special savings packages it will offer guests in 2010.
Crystal Cruises value-added features have been extended to include:
- Two-for-one fares for all destinations
- All Inclusive – As You Wish spending credits for all destinations – up to $2,000 [...]

There once was a time when travelers checks were the safest means by which to have money at your disposal while travelling. In recent years, however, more and more travelers report that they have a lot of trouble with these tried and true checks.
These days, trying to cash a traveler’s check can be met with [...]

As the New Year quickly approaches, many want to think through their travel plans for 2010. Though demand is down in some sectors of the travel industry, many are still looking for great trips to exciting destinations. One of the hot spots that the travel industry is tagging for 2010 is Germany. Though Germany is [...]