Northern Lights Travel

Watch your wallet! Top 10 travel budget busters

2011-10-10T08:53:00.000-07:00

Watch your wallet! Top 10 travel budget busters

The most dangerous U.S. airports

2011-10-10T08:52:00.000-07:00

Near-complete Fontainebleau Las Vegas files Chapter 11

2009-06-12T12:14:00.000-07:00

Near-complete Fontainebleau Las Vegas files Chapter 11

In yet another sign of how broadly the credit crunch is rippling throughout the hotel industry, the glitzy Fontainebleau resort-casino-condo project in Las Vegas this week sought Chapter 11 protection from creditors.

NEXT WEEK:Best Western CEO David Kong blogs on Hotel Check-In

In the case of the $3 billion Fountainebleau project, it was the Lehman Bros. bankruptcy that led to problems financing the resort, casino and 300,000-square-foot mall, the South Florida Business Journal reports. Lehman began refusing to forward more money to the developers under the project's construction loan starting in December 2008.

The Fontainebleau Miami Beach - the resort popular in the 50s and '60s with stars like Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Sammy Davis, Jr. - is not included in the filing. (More coverage about the bankruptcy and the developer - the Soffer family of South Florida - from the Miami Herald.)

The 68-story tower is 70% complete, the Business Journal says, so the immediate goal is to get about $800 million in funding to finish the interiors.

Readers: Do you think Vegas has enough resorts and casinos?

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/hotelcheckin/post/2009/06/67983743/1

United States Id Changes June 1st 2009

2009-05-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

Tougher ID requirements begin June 1 for citizens returning to the U.S.

By Kitty Bean Yancey, USA TODAY
On June 1, U.S. citizens returning from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and parts of the Caribbean by land or sea will face stiffer documentation requirements.
Passports, passport cards, Enhanced Driver's Licenses or "trusted traveler" cards will have to be shown, unless voyagers are youngsters or on certain exempt cruises.

(U.S. citizens already need a passport to return via air from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and Caribbean islands except Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.)

The stepped-up requirements are the final phase of a Department of Homeland Security/State Department anti-terrorism policy called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which took effect in January 2007 with passports required to fly back from neighboring countries.

"The mission is to strengthen border security while facilitating legitimate travel," says Joanne Ferreira, a spokeswoman for U.S Customs and Border Protection.

The various entry cards and information on how to get them are detailed on the agency's website getyouhome.gov.

Passport cards, which look like driver's licenses, have been offered since July and can be used to drive or walk across the border from Canada or Mexico or to take ferries or cruises. They're not accepted for international air travel.

Enhanced Driver's Licenses, embedded with technology that refers border agents to a stored record in a government database, are currently being issued by only four states: New York, Vermont, Michigan and Washington State.

Other forms of acceptable land-and-sea border crossing documentation: "trusted traveler" cards such as SENTRI, NEXUS and FAST (for truckers), which require more screening to obtain. Those with passport cards, enhanced licenses and other cards embedded with identity information can use scanners to speed their trip through some checkpoints.

Those under 16 or teens 16 to 18 who are traveling with an organized group to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean will need only a birth certificate, the Customs and Border Protection agency says.

The new rules were to have kicked in January 2008, but they were postponed in part by fears that they would hinder trade and tourism.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told reporters this week that she knows some Americans are unaware of the new requirements or haven't gotten around to getting a passport. The process can take a month or more.

"We'll work with them at the border," she said. That may involve being pulled aside while border agents confirm identity and citizenship.

Cruising already is a sea of confusion.

For instance, cruisers who begin and end their trips in the same U.S. port are not required to show passports under the new law. Technically, they can use a driver's license and birth certificate.

The Cruise Lines International Association says individual carriers reserve the right to require certain identification, including passports and that would-be cruisers check with individual cruise lines when booking.

It's too early to say whether the new rules will further slow travel and harm tourist-dependent areas such as Mexican border towns.

A record 30% of Americans hold passports, the State Department says. But applications, which had been rising, are down in this recessionary year (7.1 million issued through April, vs. 10.3 million in the same period last year).

The cost for an adult passport ($100 purchased in person; $75 by mail) and $45 passport card for first-time adult purchasers ($20 by mail) may deter some vacationers. As might the wait to get them.

So who might profit from the new rules?

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands — St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix — are United States territory and continue to be passport-free zones.

Contributing: Gannett News Service

Find this article at:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2009-05-21-western-hemisphere-travel-initiative_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

Are airlines destined to go the way of the railroads?

2009-05-20T12:02:00.000-07:00

Are airlines destined to go the way of the railroads?
http://asp.usatoday.com/marketing/rss/rsstrans.aspx?ssts=travel%7Ccolumnist%7Cgrossman

var storyURL = "http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/grossman/2009-05-19-airlines-

"Are airlines destined to go the way of the railroads? ";

By David Grossman, special for USA TODAY

Despite continued capacity cuts and lower fuel prices, most major airlines posted another round of steep losses in the first quarter as companies everywhere trim travel in a dismal economic environment. With fewer flight options, a slew of new ancillary fees, the continuing hassles of post-9/11 air travel and now a looming global health crisis, more companies and business travelers are choosing teleconferences, Webinars and other virtual meeting venues in lieu of the old-fashioned business trip.
With the airline business eroding, it might be a good time for airlines to ask themselves, "What business are we in?" I suspect every airline CEO would probably say they are in the business of flying passengers from one place to another, but they may be off the mark. The purpose of just about every business trip is to facilitate some kind of meeting. Whether it is a sales person calling on a prospect, a job applicant interviewing with a potential employer or conventioneers wandering the exhibit hall, the objective is always the same: Get people together.

In each case, it's the meeting, not the air travel, that's the true purpose of the trip. When air travel becomes too costly, inconvenient or dangerous, business travelers find ways to make meetings happen without flying.

Yet airlines fail to comprehend their supporting role, and the fact that they could cease to exist if business travelers stopped holding meetings. Therefore, airlines are not in the flying business; they are in the meetings business, at least with respect to their most important clientele.

The current airline struggle for survival is reminiscent of the death of the passenger railroads in post-WWII America. Once upon a time, hundreds of railroads crisscrossed the country and carried everyone wherever they needed to go. When air travel became safe, reliable and affordable, and the nation constructed a network of interstate super highways, the passenger railroad industry missed a vital and obvious business signal that major change had arrived.
What the railroads failed to recognize was that they were really in the transportation business, rather than the narrow niche of moving people from city to city in metal coaches riding along thousands of miles of tracks. In the short space of a few decades, every major U.S. passenger railroad disappeared as Americans opted for faster and more convenient air and automobile travel instead of the train. Had even one railroad CEO understood this simple concept and altered their business model to include air and road options, that railroad might still be in business today.
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A savvy railroad CEO, who saw the handwriting on the wall, might have extended their tracks right up to the airport passenger terminals (as they have done in Europe), or constructed new airports alongside their existing tracks. Had one CEO recognized they were in the transportation business, no matter what mode, that railroad might have purchased or partnered with an airline, a rental car company, a taxi or limousine service, parking facilities, bus lines and any other businesses that help passengers complete their journey from end to end regardless of transport mode.
While the airlines helped put the passenger railroads out of business, in an ironic twist of fate, those same airlines are facing a similar threat to their core business and may eventually be obliterated by virtual meetings, automobile travel and even a high-speed, all-electric reincarnation of those railroads they replaced decades ago. Sadly, the airlines have failed to learn the lessons of the defunct passenger railroads and have yet to see the big picture: Airlines are in the meetings business.
If I were an airline CEO today, instead of annoying my best customers with service cuts and ancillary fees, I'd be building conference rooms with lots of meeting space at airports and installing the latest Web and teleconferencing equipment. I might partner with or even purchase a company that already provides these services across the globe and integrate these services into my product line. I'd partner with Amtrak and municipal commuter railroads and mass transit systems in every major city, and position my airline to capture federal government stimulus funds to construct my own high-speed, intercity rail lines. I might also partner with or purchase a hotel chain and fill those properties with the latest virtual-meeting and communications equipment. I'd even encourage my customers to try a virtual meeting this time instead of flying. In short, I would try to capture as much of the money spent on business meetings as possible, regardless of the venue and meeting method.
In this way, during hard times like these when fewer people are traveling, I'd be expanding my revenue stream to include virtual in addition to face-to-face meetings. Additionally, on my website I would sell all of my company's meetings products including air, rail, highway and virtual meetings – all on the same page. I'd display prices for every meeting option as well as the features and benefits of each option to make it easy for my customers to evaluate the merits and costs of each business meeting type to help them make an informed decision in selecting a meeting method best suited for their needs.
If just one airline implemented some of these suggestions, that airline would be miles ahead of its competitors and could become the instant favorite of business travelers, meeting planners, and other professionals who control the travel and meetings spending for their companies. Perhaps that airline would still need to shrink the flying part of its business to match reduced travel demand, but it would also spend less money on flying, and surface travel options or virtual meetings might provide the revenues and profits necessary to sustain the company until the demand for air travel rebounds again. Finally, that one airline which has redefined itself as a meetings company might consistently make money while its myopic competitors still in the "airline" business continue to drown in red ink.
Read previous columns
Send David your feedback: David Grossman is a veteran business traveler and former airline industry executive. He writes a column every other week on topics of interest and concern to business travelers. E-mail him at travel@usatoday.com.

Mexico resorts offer 'flu-free' deal

2009-05-15T12:14:00.000-07:00

Desperate to woo back travelers who cancelled trips in the wake of Mexico's swine flu outbreak, more than 20 coastal resort hotels have launched a "flu-free guarantee": Guests who catch the H1N1 virus in Mexico — and have the blood test to prove it — can get their next three vacations for free.

The initiative comes as the country's tourism industry tallies staggering losses from a flu epidemic that Mexican officials first confirmed on April 23. The country's official death toll rose to 64 Thursday, with 2,656 confirmed infections. The virus has so far infected nearly 6,500 people worldwide, including 3,352 cases in the USA.

After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. State Department warned travelers against nonessential trips to Mexico, U.S. cruise lines dropped port calls, airlines waived cancellation fees and resorts emptied. The advisory remains in effect despite lobbying efforts from Mexican hoteliers and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, whose May 5 letter to Pres. Obama noted that "it is now apparent that the health implications of H1N1 are not limited to Mexico, (and) CDC and WHO officials have publicly stated the H1N1 virus is generally no greater health risk than seasonal influenza."

Tourism minister Rodolfo Elizondo estimated this week that a flu-related drop in foreign visitors could cost Mexico up to 250,000 jobs and as much as $4 billion. this year, or nearly a third of what the country earned from 22.6 million visitors last year.

The new flu guarantee is offered at Real Resorts, AMResorts, and Karisma's El Dorado and Azul hotels, most in Cancun or the Riviera Maya. At least 25 Cancun hotels have closed because of low occupancy, and many are slashing rates.

To qualify for a free vacation under the flu guarantee, travelers must have made a new reservation at a participating hotel between May 8 and June 30 for travel taking place between May 8 and Dec. 20, 2009.

Sniffles don't count: Guests must provide a doctor's certification and positive test results, taken within five days of departure, for Influenza A — H1N1. The three return stays — one per year — are valid for the original traveler plus one companion; blackout dates and other restrictions apply.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/hotels/2009-05-14-mexico-flu-deal_N.htm?POE=click-refer

AirTran's in-flight Wi-Fi service takes off with test flight

2009-05-13T09:05:00.000-07:00

AirTran's in-flight Wi-Fi service takes off with test flight

By Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY
LINTHICUM, Md. — AirTran Airways (AAI) launched its wireless Internet service Tuesday, allowing passengers on a promotional test flight to quickly connect to and browse the Web at 39,000 feet.
The Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi service — which AirTran says will be on each of its 136 jetliners by late July — performed as advertised.
BACKGROUND: AirTran to offer Wi-Fi on all flights
But the promotional flight from Baltimore/Washington International up the Eastern Seaboard pointed out one shortcoming in cruising the Web in the air: a lack of electrical outlets, which could prove troublesome for customers whose flights last longer than their devices' battery lives.
Tad Hutcheson, AirTran's vice president of marketing and sales, acknowledged the power problem. He said it's a priority for AirTran to resolve the issue but conceded, "That's not likely to happen anytime soon."
AirTran's promotional flight points up how fast airlines are racing to provide Wi-Fi capability on their planes after experimenting with it for more than a year.
Airlines see the service as a way to lure lucrative business travelers and boost revenue during the economic downturn.
Wi-Fi "is not just a luxury, it's a necessity" as AirTran looks to stay ahead of its rivals, said Bob Fornaro, AirTran CEO.
AirTran will charge $12.95 for a "Gogo Flight Pass" that covers both laptops and mobile devices on flights of three hours or longer. The fee drops to $9.95 for flights that are shorter than three hours. AirTran also will offer a "Gogo Mobile Flight Pass" for $7.95. As the name suggests, that plan covers only mobile devices but is good on flights of any length.
The airline wouldn't say how much it expects to make from the service.
There will be pornography filters to help prevent access to inappropriate websites. Access to Skype and other Internet-based phone calls will not be allowed.
AirTran is the first big U.S. airline to guarantee wireless capability on every flight nationwide.
Virgin America, a smaller carrier, says it will be able to make the same claim by the end of this month by having the capability on its 28-plane fleet.
Big carriers, including Delta Air Lines (DAL), American Airlines (AMR) and United Airlines (UAUA), are equipping planes for service on domestic routes later this year.

Find this article at: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-05-12-airtran-wifi-flights_N.htm

AAdvantage Flex-awards

2009-05-11T16:21:00.000-07:00

AAdvantage Flex-awards

Looking for a Wi-Fi hot spot? Try 10,000 feet up

2009-05-08T11:38:00.000-07:00

Looking for a Wi-Fi hot spot? Try 10,000 feet up

By Debra AlbanCNN

(CNN) -- The days of being cut off from the Internet while you're on a plane are quickly disappearing.

An American Airlines passenger uses Wi-Fi to access the Internet during a flight.

A number of domestic airlines have recently begun offering Wi-Fi Internet access aboard planes, and other airlines say they are working toward making it happen.
"This is the year" for Wi-Fi on planes, said Jack Blumenstein, president and CEO of Aircell, whose Gogo® Inflight Internet service provides access on Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Virgin America flights, and will begin testing on United flights later this year. Gogo is installed on more than 190 commercial planes, and Blumenstein said he expected 1,200 aircraft to have Gogo capability by the end of 2009.
For now, Wi-Fi on domestic carriers' planes is limited to flights within North America. Gogo, which operates by transmitting signals from ground-level towers, functions across the United States and up to about 300 miles offshore. The company's access will cover the entire continent within a year or two, Blumenstein said.
Row 44, which uses satellite technology to provide connectivity to Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines, already covers much of North America and will roll out trans-Atlantic and European service in the third quarter of this year, said the company's CEO, John Guidon.
Neither company would release the exact cost of turning airplanes into Wi-Fi hot spots. But Blumenstein said Aircell managed to equip a plane for "substantially" less than $100,000. Row 44, which bills itself as the "industrial-strength solution" to airplane connectivity, costs hundreds of thousands of dollars per plane, Guidon said.
Another company, LiveTV, is a subsidiary of JetBlue that provides free e-mail and messaging aboard flights but doesn't offer open Web surfing. LiveTV, which uses air-to-ground technology, provides the service on select JetBlue flights and also is working with Frontier Airlines on offering Internet access aboard its planes.
The Wi-Fi venture has the potential to be "very profitable," said Harlan Platt, an airline industry expert and professor of finance at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.
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"Normally, air carriers rush to purchase capital equipment that raises their cost but doesn't raise their revenue. ... This is actually a revenue-producing tactic. And it's a good one because it's providing value to the passenger and it's creating incremental revenues for the airline," Platt said.
Aircell, which shares its revenue from Gogo with the airlines, charges $9.95 for flights under three hours, $12.95 for flights longer than three hours and $7.95 to use a Wi-Fi capable handheld device for any flight length. Passengers can begin using the service once the plane reaches 10,000 feet. If the plane remains in flight for longer than three hours as part of a delay, passengers do not pay the higher fee, Blumenstein said.
Platt believes that business model will evolve to entice more passengers to use it.
The size of those fees could result in "a whole segment of the market that they're not going to capture," said Platt. The airlines will maximize their profits by convincing more passengers to use the system with a lower price, he said.
Platt predicted Aircell and the airlines would create a second tier of service, which would be less expensive but with fewer capabilities. He compared the strategy to airlines' price-reducing tactics to avoid empty seats on planes.
As Aircell and Row 44's services expand, LiveTV is monitoring passengers' usage to gauge how to move ahead with its own business model, said Mike Moeller, vice president of sales and marketing for the company.
"Yes, broadband is coming. We're sitting there asking, 'Who pays? Is it the airlines or the customers? And what will they pay? What is the right technology? ... When does all of this happen?' We're in weird economic times," Moeller said.
As for the possibility of passengers offending their seat-mates by surfing for inappropriate content, Blumenstein said nine months of Wi-Fi availability on American yielded no such incidents. Still, airlines including American, Delta and United have requested screening for potentially offensive content, he said.
On the other hand, Alaska Airlines, which uses Row 44, does not plan on using the company's content-blocking capabilities. Instead, flight attendants will follow standard protocol for objectionable material -- they'll ask passengers to stow it away, said Bobbie Egan, an airline spokeswoman.
Here is what major U.S. airlines offer, and what is coming up:
Alaska Airlines offers in-flight Wi-Fi through Row 44. The airline said it launched a trial in mid-February on flights along the West Coast to determine usage and demand, and announced in April it would begin to determine pricing.
American Airlines announced in late March it would install Aircell's Gogo on more than 300 domestic aircraft over the next two years.
Delta Air Lines is using Gogo, and will have Wi-Fi capabilities aboard more than 330 aircraft by the end of this year, the airline announced in August 2008.
Frontier Airlines uses LiveTV for its in-flight entertainment. The airline is testing a LiveTV product that would provide Wi-Fi, which they hope to launch by the end of the year, said Frontier spokesman Steve Snyder. Pricing has not yet been determined, he said.
JetBlue provides limited, free Wi-Fi on its BetaBlue aircraft using LiveTV. Services include e-mail access through Yahoo! Mail, Microsoft Exchange, Gmail, Windows Live (Hotmail, MSN, Live) and AOL. Passengers can transmit Yahoo! instant messages and shop on Amazon.com's mobile site, and those with BlackBerry smart phones can access their accounts. JetBlue is not ruling out the possibility of offering expanded services for a fee, said company spokeswoman Alison Croyle. The airline plans to roll out the LiveTV service on more of its fleet this year, she said.
Southwest Airlines is testing Wi-Fi on four of its aircraft using Row 44 technology. After testing, which will probably last through April, the airline will determine pricing and how it will install the product on the rest of its fleet, spokeswoman Whitney Eichinger said.
United Airlines will use Gogo technology as it begins testing Wi-Fi on flights between New York and California in the second half of this year. The airline will decide on availability elsewhere after assessing feedback from testing, said United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski.
Virgin America offers Wi-Fi using Gogo on all flights between Washington and Los Angeles, California, and all of its Boston routes. The airline said its entire fleet will have Internet access by the second quarter of this year. In addition to Gogo's standard rates, Virgin America offers a rate of $5.95 for red-eye flights.
Airtran, Continental and US Airways do not offer in-flight Wi-Fi, but representatives for those airlines said they are looking into it.
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Downtown Vegas 1969 Summer Tribute

2009-05-06T13:40:00.000-07:00

Downtown Las Vegas takes visitors back to 1969
By Oskar Garcia, Associated Press Writer
LAS VEGAS — Forty years after the Woodstock music festival, downtown Las Vegas is looking for people who want to relive the groovy days of 1969.
The Fremont Street Experience is paying tribute to 1969 all summer long with free rock concerts, plenty of tie-dye T-shirts and peace symbols to trigger memories of a year many people say resonates with them to this day.
CITY GUIDE: Las Vegas attractions, hotels and more
The bands expected were heavy hitters in the day — Blood, Sweat and Tears, Three Dog Night, the 5th Dimension, Rare Earth, the Grass Roots and Canned Heat.
Organizers have hired John Van Hamersveld — an artist recognizable for his movie artwork for The Endless Summer in 1966 and for the cover of the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour album in 1967 — to paint two buses, one to be used as a stage.
Special video shows planned for a giant screen hanging over the street include a rolling-credits style memorial for the 58,000 Americans killed or missing in action from the Vietnam War.
The comprehensive promotion gives tourists an excuse to celebrate hippy sensibilities, the first astronauts walking on the moon and Woodstock.
But the 10 casinos located in the venerable section of Las Vegas are hoping the 108 days of throwback entertainment result in more visitors to help revive the city's top industry.
"It's coming at a time when it plays well," said Jeff Victor, president of the Fremont Street Experience, the management company in charge of promoting the destination.
Victor said he and others felt Fremont Street didn't do enough events during the summer.
Fremont Street Experience is spending about $1.7 million on the campaign between the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, $500,000 more than it normally would during the season. Officials want to increase the share of Sin City visitors that go downtown, less than 3 miles north of the end of the Las Vegas Strip.
Victor said each casino is also making plans to tie to the 1969 theme.
"This economy and Las Vegas in particular requires retail opportunities for visitation, and that's exactly what this promotion provides," Victor said. "With people in their 50s and 60s, there is an emotional connection (to 1969)."
Forty years later, Las Vegas finds itself scrambling to reach visitors who are coming less often, spending less money on food and entertainment and not gambling as much.
Visitor volume was down 10% for all of Las Vegas for the first two months of this year compared with 2008, according to the latest figures available from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Casinos downtown earned $83.9 million in gambling revenue in January and February, down 17% from the first two months of 2008, the tourism agency said. Other casinos in the rest of the county experienced similar declines.
But a recent profile study by the tourism authority showed that 46% of Las Vegas visitors in 2008 spent some time downtown during their trip. That was down significantly from 57% in 2006, but up from 40% in 2007.
The 10 casinos on the Fremont Street Experience have a combined 6,600 hotel rooms — 4.7% of all the hotel rooms in the city.
Victor said the 1969 campaign could be first of several seasonal themes for Fremont Street — if downtown can pull it off.
"We'll be checking to see a promotion of this duration is repeatable," Victor said.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

In Response to Swine Flu

2009-05-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

May 5, 2009 news
var clickTitle = 'ACTE Survey: In Response to Swine Flu, Companies Cancel Meetings';

ACTE Survey: In Response to Swine Flu, Companies Cancel MeetingsMay 01, 2009Because they want to avoid exposing their employees to the H1N1 swine flu virus through sneezes and handshakes, 37 percent of companies worldwide are either canceling meetings or restricting travelers from attending them, according to an initial survey of corporate travel managers by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE).Meetings aside, companies say they are prepared for the possibility of a pandemic and are not canceling business travel plans, except to Mexico."This initial survey of global business travel managers indicates that levels of corporate preparedness are quite high going into this crisis, with a majority of companies showing confidence in their contagion and pandemic plans," ACTE Executive Director Susan Gurley said in a statement. "Actually, preparedness levels are much higher than they were at the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome—SARS—in 2003. At that time, companies had to gear up for a potential pandemic. They have now had six years to build upon their contagion and pandemic plans and to perfect their implementation. This is a contributing factor to the lack of panic now."According to the ACTE survey, 62 percent of companies currently have a pandemic emergency plan that "covers the evacuation or hospitalization of infected travelers in a foreign country facing an outbreak of contagion." Meanwhile, 73 percent of companies have a plan that allows "the majority of employees to work from home or a remote location in the event of a pandemic.""There was concern these might be the same contingency plans developed six years ago," Gurley said, "but the survey clearly indicates that this is not the case."In fact, 58 percent of ACTE survey respondents said their companies have been upgrading their pandemic plans on a regular basis since SARS, while 68 percent have been advising employees and travelers of plan upgrades every three months. Furthermore, 24 percent of companies said they remind travelers of their contagion program prior to every trip they take.Because they feel adequately prepared for a pandemic, few companies are canceling business travel plans apart from meetings, according to ACTE, which said 47 percent of companies have restricted travel—but only to Mexico. Only 3 percent of companies said they are restricting travel to the United States and Mexico, and only 1 percent to the United States exclusively."This is an evolving crisis that will be determined by government efforts to contain, cure and control the H1N1 swine influenza," Gurley said, "as well as the ongoing impact on the business travel industry and the global economy."

www.nltravel.com

NWA World & Continental Airlines Vacations Policy Change

2009-05-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

MLT Vacations Enhances Influenza Advisory Policy
Effective May 1, 2009, MLT Vacations has enhanced its Influenza Advisory Policy for the NWA WorldVacations and Continental Airlines Vacations® brands, to provide more flexibility for customers traveling to Mexico through May 31, 2009. The Worry-Free Vacations policy remains the same through June 15, 2009.
In addition, the rebooking option for all three brands has been adjusted to allow customers to rebook without penalty to another destination for departure within 21 days before or after the original departure date.
Please be advised that we have been receiving higher than normal call volume, and you may experience a longer wait time on the phone lines.

RCCL Temporarily Suspends Port Calls in Mexico

2009-04-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Temporarily Suspends Port Calls in Mexico
By: PR Newswire
Apr. 28, 2009 06:08 PM

MIAMI, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced it is temporarily suspending its port calls in Mexico. The decision was made in an abundance of caution, and allows additional time to better understand the full impact of the Swine Flu.
The suspension involves the company's Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises brands. Royal Caribbean International has four ships currently making regularly scheduled port call in Mexico - Enchantment of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas. Two additional Royal Caribbean International ships were scheduled to make upcoming Mexican port calls as they repositioned - Serenade of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas. Celebrity Cruises had one ship scheduled to make upcoming Mexico port calls as it repositions - Celebrity Infinity.
All but one of the affected ships will either make alternative port calls or spend additional time at sea. Royal Caribbean International's Mariner of the Seas will sail a fully revised itinerary, visiting Canada and the U.S. West Coast. The temporary suspension takes effect immediately and will be in effect for the immediate future. It will be regularly reviewed in light of any Swine Flu developments.
"Like our guests, we take all health matters seriously," said Dr. Art Diskin, chief medical officer for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "Although authorities have not raised specific concerns regarding the ports we visit in Mexico, we want to err on the side of caution. We're taking proactive steps onboard our ships to help ensure the health and well-being of our guests and crew members, and this is just one more step in that process. We apologize for the disruption these changes will cause our guests, and we appreciate their understanding."
The company has been closely monitoring Swine Flu developments and is utilizing its Influenza Prevention and Response Plans. That plan was developed by its office of Medical and Public Health in coordination with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health experts. The plan is based on three pillars: Preparedness and Communication; Surveillance and Detection; and Response and Containment.
The company's onboard activities regarding the Swine Flu include:
Providing guests with Swine Flu information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Screening embarking guests and crew members regarding recent visits to, or travel through Mexico, contact with people ill with the Swine Flu, and for recent flu-like symptoms
Conducting enhanced sanitizing of all high-touch areas onboard
Providing hand sanitizers throughout all ships
Asking guests to follow the advice of medical experts regarding the best ways to help prevent the spread of flu and other illnesses - via proper and frequent hand washing, and covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
And, if necessary, onboard medical staff can isolate and treat guests or crew members who display flu-like symptoms, using the supply of anti-viral medications kept onboard all ships.
Additional details will be posted on the Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises consumer websites.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France. The company has a combined total of 38 ships in service and six under construction. It also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America. Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com, www.celebrity.com, www.pullmantur.es, www.azamaracruises.com, www.cdfcroisieresdefrance.com or www.rclinvestor.com.

Vendors updating Swine flu rebooking policy

2009-04-29T12:16:00.000-07:00

Mexico Travel Update Regarding the Swine Flu: Updated Rebooking Policies & Procedures and Hotel Rebooking Discounts
Funjet Vacations is committed to protecting our customers and their vacation investments. Our policy has just been updated with extended windows through May 15, 2009. Also, in efforts to protect our customers' vacation experience, we are offering discounts for rebookings at select hotels in Hawaii and the Caribbean. Travel agents can save time by rebooking in VAX and issuing their own payment transfer requests via email for reservations that don't require special service. Click below for complete policy and procedure details as well as discount information including a list of participating hotels.
VAX Vendor Center Advisory Page
Participating Hotel Rebooking Discounts (Check back frequently for additional updates to hotel list.)
Save up to $50 per adult on vacations 3-6 nights
Save up to $100 per adult on vacations 7+ nights
Sandals and Beaches Bonus! Save up to $150 per person including children at Beaches for any length of stay
Updated Rebooking Procedures and Travel Advisory Policy
**Important** Please follow our Easy Travel Agent E-mail Rebooking Procedures found in our Travel Advisory Policy and include the words “Rebooking Discount” in your e-mail if the reservation qualifies to receive a discount. Funjet Vacations is The Travel Agent’s First Choice because of our 35 years of experience, second-to-none End to End Customer Service Experience and our unbeatable Complete Coverage - cancel for any reason travel protection. For more information about Funjet Vacations, visit FunjetAgentAdvantage.com.Travel agents can book Funjet Vacations through www.VAXVacationAccess.com or the VAX VacationAccess technology via Amadeus AgentNet, Sabre Vacations, and Vacation.com AgentNet.The Funjet Vacations Team

Insurance Q and A Regarding swine Flu

2009-04-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

Travel Guard Responds to Coverage Questions Surrounding Swine Flu
Travelers who purchased a Travel Guard plan with the optional "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage can cancel their trip and receive the benefits outlined in the policy. The following questions and answers have been prepared to help you understand the typical coverage that may or may not be available for insured travelers who do not have the optional "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage. Before answering a question in total, verify that the policy does have specific coverages.

If I would contract the swine flu, would I be covered for cancellation?
As long as the insurance was purchased before you contracted the disease, you would normally be covered for cancellation. Travel Guard would require a note from the doctor as verification. (Please confirm that policy has coverage for unforeseen illness.)

If I would contract the swine flu while on my trip, would I have coverage for medical expenses?
As long as the disease was contracted while on the trip, the insured would normally be covered. (Please confirm the coverage is available for the product.)

Would I have coverage for Trip Interruption if the area I am traveling to is quarantined by that country's government?
Generally there is coverage under Trip Interruption, if you are specifically quarantined to an area because of possible contact with the swine flu.

Would I have coverage for Trip Delay if the area I am traveling to is quarantined by that country's government?
Generally there is coverage under Trip Delay; if you were specially quarantined up to the maximum limits of the policy.

If I am afraid to Travel to a specific area because swine flu has been detected, will I have coverage for Trip Cancellation?
No, there is no coverage for fear of traveling to a specific region. Under Trip Cancellation, Travel Guard may provide coverage for reasons such as illness or injury, weather conditions, and traffic accidents.

Travel Guard generally does not provide coverage for government regulations or advisories to specific regions. Under Trip Cancellation, Travel Guard provides coverage for reasons such as illness or injury, weather conditions, and traffic accidents.

Would I have coverage for Trip Cancellation if the area I am traveling to is quarantined by that country's government?
Generally, Travel Guard's plans would not provide coverage for Trip Cancellation should that country's government have quarantines due to the swine flu.

Would the possible "epidemic" be covered as a "Natural Disaster"?
The definition of "Natural Disaster" is flood, hurricane, earthquake, or blizzard that is due to natural causes. So, this would normally not be considered a "Natural Disaster".

No matter where your clients are traveling, it is important they prepare for the unexpected. As a leader in travel safety, security and relevant travel information, Travel Guard is advising its customers to take precautions when traveling to areas recently affected by the swine flu outbreak. While in no way do we want to minimize the seriousness of this outbreak, our first concern is for customers to remember to take precautions, and as with any health advisory, be prepared, but not panicked. For customers planning future travel, we advise them to call Travel Guard for periodic updates with respect to the destination to which they are traveling. For clients who are currently on a trip, we advise them to practice good health habits to help prevent the spread of germs, and contact Travel Guard immediately to coordinate medical care if they should start feeling sick: 1-800-826-1300.

We are continuing to monitor this situation and will continue to provide updates.
Insurance is underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa, with its principal place of business in New York, NY. The Policy will contain reductions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions. All coverages may not be available in all states.

Welcome To My Blog

2009-04-28T08:42:00.000-07:00

A full service travel agency since 1989, Northern Lights Travel handles domestic and international leisure and corporate travel, with many specialty areas including Incentive, Corporate Retreats and Meetings, Family Reunions, Weddings, Religious, and much more.
Our goal is to make certain your travel arrangements compliment, rather than complicate, your trip. We take great pride in assisting travelers and, whenever appropriate, offering alternatives that will better fit their travel requirements.
Our database searches MILLIONS of fares, so we can guarantee the lowest fare for any trip you have in mind. We even search unpublished fares that you can't find anywhere else.
Let the professionals at Northern Lights Travel take care of your travel needs. After all, when it comes to travel, we're in a class of our own.

Why do you need a travel agency?
There are myriads of choices, decisions, and details involved in each and every trip you take. One overlooked detail can cause a dream to turn into disaster. As travel professionals, we have the expertise in every aspect of your travel needs. Here are a few more reasons why we should be your first resource in travel.
Employee's Surfing
• Checking all those web sites for the great deals. Time is money! Why not just pay for results. Not your employees surfing!
• Booking window, if the flight has only a seat left as a Travel Agent I can hold that seat while a decision is being made. While you think about it or have to wait until your appointment confirms the seat sells out and you are stuck with a higher fare.
• Voiding window of 24 to 72 hours after ticketing.
• Real-time availability.
• Non-bias opinions
• Talk to a human when you need help.
• Understanding these rules and regulations can be a great burden, even to the airlines. Wondering why you can't get the awesome fare you found? This may be a reason. Here, we have experts who take care of all that for you for no worries and aggravation. Without us, you're on your own.
• We have a database that searches MILLIONS of fares for any trip you have in mind and guarantee the lowest fare. We even search unpublished fares that you can't find anywhere else.
• When planning a trip, there are so many things to consider that many are easily overlooked. Hotels, parking, rental cars, travel documents such as passports and visas, taxes, tours, sightseeing excursions, tips, local customs, security issues, ground transportation, porterage, and the list goes on into infinity.
• Why not let us take the hassle out of your life by letting the PROFESSIONALS handle all the details of your trip. That's what we're here for and we promise to see that your every concern is addressed.
Alternatives
ConsolidatorsGive huge discounts on fares.
BrokersDiscounts on expensive, business class and first class fares.
Tour OperatorsDiscounts on packages.
Your one stop source
We arrange everything right here. Hotels, Air, Rental Cars, you name it. Why spend hours making countless phone calls and waiting on hold? We do it all in a matter of minutes for a small fee. Travel should be fun, so make it fun!

©2009 Northern Lights Travel • 7515 Wayzata Boulevard #101 • St. Louis Park, MN 55426 • 952-591-1660 (office) • 952-591-9366 (fax)
Site Created by Red Leaf Design

Hawaii is hot for Summer 2009

2009-04-28T08:35:00.000-07:00

April 27, 2009
Northern Lights Travel

7515 Wayzata Blvd Ste 101

St Louis Park MN 55426

952-591-1660-office

952-591-9366-fax

rick@nltravel.com

http://www.nltravel.com/

DEALS DEALS DEALS DEALS

For Immediate Release
hawaii summer vacations!

(Westlake Village, CA) Pleasant Holidays today announced that Hawaii summer vacation package prices have decreased between 40%-55% compared to summer 2008 due to declining airfares and hotel rates, according to the company’s research data.

“Travelers who postponed the traditional family summer vacation to Hawaii last year due to higher prices should plan and buy their trip today,” said President and CEO Jack E. Richards. “Prices have come down between 40% and 55% due to reduced airfares and exceptional hotel values that are available now.”

Examples of savings found only with Pleasant Holidays including roundtrip air and 5 nights hotel:
Los Angeles: -48% San Francisco: -46% Chicago: -41% New York: -55% Boston: -55% Phoenix: -48%

Vacation packages for summer travel begin at $532 per person including roundtrip air from Los Angeles to Honolulu and 3 nights accommodations. Three-night air-inclusive packages to Maui from Los Angeles start at $453. Additional 3-night air-inclusive packages to Oahu are available from Portland from $421; San Francisco from $439; Seattle from $439; Boston from $446; Phoenix from $449; New York (JFK) from $444; Atlanta from $679; Chicago from $679; Denver from $683 and San Diego from $723. Three-night air-inclusive packages to Maui are available from San Diego from $420; New York (JFK) from $469; Phoenix from $473; Boston from $474; Seattle from $597; Portland from $599; Atlanta from $689; Chicago from $689; Denver from $696 and San Francisco from $704.

Travelers can take advantage of low summer rates on a 7-day Hawaiian Islands Cruise aboard NCL’s Pride of America, which sails from Honolulu visiting Maui, Kauai and Hawaii’s Big Island. Cruises begin at $779 per person including all meals and onboard entertainment. For the ideal travel experience or honeymoon, travelers can combine the NCL Hawaiian Islands Cruise with a Hawaii land vacation on Oahu, Maui or Kauai. Pleasant Holidays will customize a travel itinerary including inter-island flights, ground transportation and resort accommodations.

Travelers planning a Hawaii wedding or honeymoon can coordinate their wedding party and family travel through Pleasant Holidays’ exclusive Wedding Travel Desk (800-818-9080). Ask about discounts and special amenities for the bride and groom.

Pleasant Holidays offers Hawaii activities and sightseeing tours online at www.PleasantActivities.com. The site features real-time inventory and pricing for Hawaii’s most popular attractions including Pearl Harbor, Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaiian luaus and more. Vacationers may also visit any of the 27 Pleasant Activities Centers, located in hotels throughout the Hawaiian Islands, or call the “Ambassadors of Aloha” Concierge Desk at 888-229-7770 for expert advice and assistance. In addition, Pleasant Holidays Concierge Service assists with arranging golf tee times, spa treatments, romantic dinners and more during travelers’ vacations.

Pleasant Holidays received the “Best Tour Operator Hawaii” Readers Choice Award from Travel Weekly for the fifth consecutive year in a row, and the “Best Tour Operator Hawaii” from TravelAge West magazine. Pleasant Holidays is covered by the U.S.T.O.A. $1 million travelers assistance program.

Departures from cities shown. Rates quoted are per person, based on double occupancy unless otherwise stated. LAX/SFO: Rates valid for select travel 7/6-8/3/09. PHX/BOS/ORD/JFK/SAN/ATL/DEN/PDX/SEA: Rates based on published retail airfares collected on 4/22/09 for travel select travel 7/6-8/3/09. Change, cancellation fees, and other restrictions may apply once tickets are issued. Published retail airfares are NON-REFUNDABLE. Rates, terms, conditions, availability and itinerary are subject to change without notice. Certain restrictions may apply. Taxes, gratuities, transfers, airfare and excursions are additional unless otherwise indicated. Rates shown include Hawaii ticket tax, but do not include Transportation Taxes of $16.08, Passenger Facility Charges of $3 - $18, a per segment tax of $3.60, or September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 per enplanement (up to a maximum of $5.00 per one-way or $10.00 per round-trip). Additional airline restrictions, including but not limited to baggage limitations, standby policies and fees, non-refundable tickets and change fees with pre-flight notification deadlines may apply. Fees and policies vary among airlines and are subject to change without notice. Please contact the airline directly for details and answers to specific questions you may have. Not responsible for errors or omissions. NCL CRUISE: Rates valid for sail dates from 8/22-10/31/09. Sail dates vary by departure city. Port charge, government taxes & fees are included. Onboard service charges are additional & will be automatically added to your onboard account. [Pleasant Holidays acts only as an agent for the various travel providers shown above.] Copyright © 2009 Pleasant Holidays, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Norther Lights Travel is a family founded and run Travel Agency located in St Louis Park MN

A full service travel agency since 1989, Northern Lights Travel handles domestic and international leisure and corporate travel, with many specialty areas including Incentive, Corporate Retreats and Meetings, Family Reunions, Weddings, Religious, and much more.
Our goal is to make certain your travel arrangements compliment, rather than complicate, your trip. We take great pride in assisting travelers and, whenever appropriate, offering alternatives that will better fit their travel requirements.
Our database searches MILLIONS of fares, so we can guarantee the lowest fare for any trip you have in mind. We even search unpublished fares that you can't find anywhere else.
Let the professionals at Northern Lights Travel take care of your travel needs. After all, when it comes to travel, we're in a class of our own.