Hawaiian proposes Kona-Tokyo route
Hawaiian Airlines filed for rights to a second Hawaii-Tokyo route, proposing daily nonstops to Tokyo's close-in Haneda Airport from Kona on the Big Island. The carrier, which already operates Honolulu-Haneda service, was one of three airlines filing at the Transportation Department to claim the slots that Delta is using for Detroit-Haneda flights. Delta wants to move the flights to Seattle, but American seeks to claim them for Los Angeles and United for San Francisco.
United lists 787 domestic routes
United said its first domestic flights using its new 787 Dreamliners will begin on or before Nov. 4 on routes linking Houston with its other major hubs, such as Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington and Newark, later adding Cleveland and Denver. Availability is expected to be displayed on United.com and "other distribution channels" this week. United said the Nov. 4 date is expected to be moved up after training and proving flights are completed. United said Dreamliners will operate more than 470 flight segments in the U.S. in the last two months of 2012 in addition to international flights beginning in early December.
Southwest sets Branson schedule
Southwest said it will add Branson, Mo., to its network on March 9, taking over and modifying services now offered by its AirTran subsidiary. Southwest will drop AirTran's Branson nonstops to Atlanta and Baltimore-Washington, continue service to Houston, Chicago Midway and Orlando and add a daily nonstop from Dallas.
Expedia offers 'mobile-only' rates
Expedia added mobile-only hotel discounts to its hotel-booking smartphone app, Expedia Hotels. The company said the new feature offers exclusive discounts at some 2,000 hotels in the U.S., Canada and Europe, ranging from 10% to 30% off the "desktop rates" normally available to online bookers. Expedia said recent research showed that about 70% of hotel rooms booked through its mobile app were for room stays within 24 hours of the booking.
Aloft hits 60 in Asheville, N.C.
Starwood's Aloft brand opened a 115-room hotel in Asheville, N.C. The downtown hotel, the brand's 60th, is located near shops, galleries and restaurants and is owned and operated by McKibbon Hotel Group, which has properties throughout the South.
Indigo brand opens its first in Mexico
InterContinental Hotels Group opened the Hotel Indigo Veracruz-Boca del Rio in the business district of Veracruz, Mexico. The 106-room property, a newbuild, is the first in Mexico for the upscale, boutique brand. Facilities include a restaurant, bar, a pool, business center and free Internet in the public areas.
Princess lays keel for Regal Princess
Italy's Fincantieri shipyard laid the keel for the latest Princess vessel, which the line named the Regal Princess. The 3,600-passenger, 141,000-ton ship, a sister to the Royal Princess, will debut in spring 2014.
Friends & Colleagues
Elizabeth Crabill has been appointed president of Travel Bound and GTA in North America. She most recently served as vice president of sales and marketing at Lindblad Expeditions and is also an executive board member of the Association of Travel Marketing Executives. Crabill is filling a post that has been vacant for the past year, since Richie Karaburun left the company in August 2011. • • • Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group named Scott Meyer senior vice president, Americas region, for Midscale Hotel Brands, effective immediately. Meyer, who has been with the company since 1987, was previously vice president of Midscale Hotel Brands and served as interim operational leader for Country Inns & Suites by Carlson and Park Inn by Radisson. • • • Kevin Hernandez, founder of Vacation Express, has returned to the company as vice president of sales and digital strategy. In his new role, Hernandez will direct the company's sales and digital marketing initiatives. Hernandez founded the company in 1988 and served as president and CEO until 2000, when he left to pursue other interests and develop new businesses in publishing, media, luxury apparel, fine jewelry and real estate brokerage.