Priceline ancillary: AA Preferred Seats
Priceline said it became the first major online travel site to sell American's Preferred Seats, using the AA direct connect technology that it adopted in January 2011. The company said it books more than 2,000 tickets a day through the channel. Upgrades to Preferred Seats, near the front of the main cabin, are priced at $4 and up and are typically available only through American's website and other direct channels.
Sabre acquires Prism Group
Sabre acquired Prism Group, which provides data management tools enabling major airlines and corporations to manage their contracts. Prism will become a part of Sabre Airline Solutions, provider of technology to the global aviation industry. Prism founder Michael Whitesage will stay on as president.
US Airways offers new ancillary meal
US Airways rolled out an upgraded economy-class meal option on international flights. Available on routes to Europe, the Middle East and South America, the optional DineFresh selections are priced at $19.99 and must be purchased from the airline at least 24 hours in advance.
Ritz-Carlton to add Saigon in 2017
Ritz-Carlton disclosed plans for its first hotel in downtown Saigon, Vietnam, a 250-room hotel in a 48-story tower opening in 2017 in a mixed-use development called the One Ho Chi Minh City near the Ben Thanh Square market.
Elad sells stake in Plaza Hotel
The majority owner of New York's Plaza Hotel, Elad Properties, agreed to sell its 60% stake to Sahara India Pariwar, the Indian conglomerate that owns the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. The deal calls for Sahara to pay $570 million for a 75% stake in the hotel, which would include a portion of the share owned by Kingdom Holdings of Saudi Arabia, which will retain a 25% interest. Fairmont, which has managed the property since 1999, will remain. The deal values the hotel at about $760 million.
Hotel pricing cited by U.K. authorities
Britain's Office of Fair Trading alleged that InterContinental Hotels Group and two online agents, Expedia and Booking.com, have violated U.K. competition laws. It said the two sites have separate agreements with the hotelier to limit their online discounting. The office said its provisional findings could have "wider implications as the alleged practices are potentially widespread in the industry." The parties will have an opportunity to respond before the case proceeds.
Wyndham rebrands 20 IHG properties
Wyndham took over management of 20 hotels in 13 states on a single day, converting 16 from InterContinental Hotels brands to Hawthorn Suites and reflagging four others under its flagship Wyndham brand. All are owned by Hospitality Properties Trust, which has been reducing its ties with IHG.
Friends & Colleagues
Travel Leaders Group has appointed Shary Dyer to the newly created post of vice president of agency acquisitions, effective immediately. Dyer heads to Travel Leaders Group after four years as vice president of national sales for the Signature Travel Network. Prior to that, Dyer was sales/account development director for American Express Travel, which she joined in 2003. • • • Lisa Lutoff-Perlo has been promoted to senior vice president of operations for Royal Caribbean International. Lutoff-Perlo has served in a variety of roles within both Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International. Most recently, she was senior vice president of hotel operations for Celebrity Cruises. • • • Dennis Blyshak, the chief corporate officer for Benchmark Hospitality International, retired at the end of last month. Blyshak started with Benchmark Hospitality 25 years ago in on-property controller assignments and also spent many years as the company's CFO. • • • Starwood Hotels & Resorts appointed Rick Segal to the newly created position of vice president, owner relations for Latin America. He previously served as managing director of the St. Regis New York and managing director of Park Hyatt Hotels North America.