Hotel suit
continues in Louisville, Ky.
A federal judge in
Louisville, Ky., refused to dismiss claims against
Internet-based hotel consolidators, including Hotels.com, that are
defendants in a federal lawsuit over allegedly unpaid hotel taxes
to municipalities.
The defendants had
sought to dismiss claims by the plaintiffs, the
Louisville/Jefferson County municipal governments, because they
claimed they were not specifically described in local ordinances as
responsible for hotel taxes. The suit is one of a number of similar
legal actions around the country
US Airways
to OK PayPal purchases
US
Airways will soon begin accepting PayPal
for online ticket purchases, perhaps by the end of this month. That
will make it the third carrier to offer the option after Northwest,
which began accepting it June 28, and Southwest, which started July
9.
PayPal is a
preferred payment system for some Internet users that also saves
airlines money on credit card merchant fees. PayPal, which has 100
million account members worldwide, enables anyone with an e-mail
address to send and receive payments online using a bank account,
credit card or stored balance.
AA to add
another Buenos Aires route
American
Airlines will begin daily, nonstop service from its
Chicago O'Hare hub to Buenos Aires on Dec. 13. The airline was able
to launch the service after a new aviation agreement was struck
between Argentina and the U.S.
American already
flies to Buenos Aires from Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami and New York's
Kennedy Airport. The airline will fly 221-seat Boeing 767-300
aircraft in a two-class configuration on the route.
Companies
up use of economy hotels
Many corporations
are staying in economy hotels more often to control lodging costs,
according to a recent survey of travel managers completed by
Runzheimer International. Although high-end hotels continue to be
used most often by business travelers, economy hotel use is up 31%
from the previous four years, said Runzheimer.
"Since nearly all
hotel types offer free, high-speed Internet connection and
continental breakfasts as the norm, companies are saving money by
putting travelers in lower-cost hotels, without sacrificing service
and traveler satisfaction," said Phyllis Schumann, Runzheimer's
product manager of travel management services.
Budgetel is
set to make its return
The
Budgetel brand will make its reappearance on the
U.S. hotel scene in early October, when a former Shoney's Inn in
Bossier City, La., a suburb of Shreveport, is due to open after
renovations of the 114-room hotel are done.
The Budgetel brand
was retired by then-owner La Quinta in 1998, when all hotels were
reflagged as Baymont Inns & Suites. In March of this year, an
investment group led by Mike and R.C. Patel bought the Budgetel
brand from The Blackstone Group.
Air China
launches shuttle service
Air
China launched Air Express, a service for
passengers flying between Beijing and Shanghai. Air China offers 20
daily shuttle flights between the cities.
The airline has
designated check-in counters, baggage service, security inspection
and boarding channels for Air Express.
Doubletree
opens in San Diego
The
Doubletree Hotel San Diego Downtown opened. The
333-room hotel was formerly a Radisson, converting to a Doubletree
after an $11 million renovation.
Carlson
Wagonlit buys $80M agency
Carlson
Wagonlit Travel acquired Preferred
Travel, a corporate agency in the Boston area that does
$80 million a year in air volume. The purchase brings approximately
85 new employees to CWT.
Liz Hatch,
president of Preferred Travel, will work with CWT on the
integration process, and then will leave the company.
After three
years, LaSource to reopen
Grenada's
LaSource resort on Pink Gin Beach, closed for
three years since Hurricane Ivan destroyed it in 2004, plans to
reopen on or about Dec. 15.
The 100-room,
all-inclusive resort had grappled with insurance adjustors for more
than two years, which delayed the start of
reconstruction.
Hyatt
Regency to open in Trinidad
The Hyatt
Regency Trinidad will open in Port of Spain in December.
According to Hyatt, the property will be the first full-service
hotel to open on Trinidad since 1962. The 428-room hotel, which
will cater to business and convention travelers, will be located in
the Port of Spain International Waterfront Center, the financial
epicenter of the city.
Aloft,
Element show their colors
Starwood
Hotels & Resorts unveiled the final proto-types of its
two newest brands: Aloft (W's less expensive
cousin) and Element (an extended-stay spin-off of
Westin).
Aloft has an
urban-influenced design, with loft-inspired rooms and large lobbies
that include a bar, game tables and seating areas.
Element rooms and
lobbies have a modern design that emphasizes open, flowing
layouts.
Both feature
grab-and-go snacks and light meals, and self-serve kiosks for
check-in and checkout.
Friends
& Colleagues
Isramworld has promoted three vice
presidents to senior vice presidents. Ilana
Apelboim is now senior vice president, chief operations
officer worldwide; Eileen Lowe Hart is senior vice
president, marketing and product development; andBetty Van
Dyke is senior vice president, research, development and
special projects. " " " Miraval Holding, a spa resort company,
promoted Tracey Anne Latkovic to vice president of
sales and named Travis Brady vice president of
branding. Brady was director of consumer and customer marketing for
Levi Strauss & Co.'s Dockers brand. " " " Travel Counsellors
named Kim Sherrett manager of recruitment,
responsible for the expansion of the home-based ranks in the U.S.
Prior to joining Travel Counsellors, Sherrett was director of agent
relations for Travel Planners International. " " " Island Outpost
named Nick Simmonds director of operations for the
company's boutique Jamaica resorts. He will continue in his job as
managing director of the Goldeneye development in Oracabessa,
Jamaica. " " " Destination Hotels & Resorts hired Ron
Sandvig as director of sales for the Terranea Resort in
Palos Verdes, Calif., a 582-room property slated to open in 2009.
Sandvig most recently spent 10 years with Starwood Hotels &
Resorts. " " " Wayne Cummings, general manager of
Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa, was elected president of the
Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association for the 2007-2008
administrative year.