Thanksgiving is a time for summing up, so what better opportunity
than the post-holiday period to cast an eye over the make-or-break
travel news that earned the industry's attention in November. To
wit:
Thousands of delegates and guests converge on Strasbourg,
France, for ASTA's World Travel Congress.The victims of EgyptAir 990, which crashes into the Atlantic,
include groups from Grand Circle Travel and Elderhostel.Bob Lepisto leaves ICTA to join Cunard as a regional vice
president of sales.Galileo announces it will launch two Internet sites, one for
agents and one for suppliers.A number of ASTA officials boycott a breakfast in Strasbourg
partially sponsored by Marriott.United, Delta, Northwest and Continental form a joint venture
to launch a Web site in 2000. On hearing the news, ASTA calls for a
Justice Department probe.Kemwel becomes the first car company to join ARC.Premier acquires the 1,100-passenger Edinburgh Castle as part
of a plan to expand the Big Red Boat fleet.Onex Corp. withdraws its bid to acquire Air Canada.Far & Wide Travel Corp. buys African Travel.The Walt Disney Co. and Hong Kong announce plans for a Disney
theme park on Lantau Island.According to ARC figures, the average domestic commission rate
sank to 5.51% in October.A late-season storm, Hurricane Lenny, rakes the northeastern
Caribbean.The Voyager of the Seas, all 142,000 tons of it, arrives in
Miami for its maiden voyage.American, United and US Airways join Priceline.com.The DOT says consumer complaints about air travel tripled in
September compared with the same month in 1998.A new law is enacted that, in effect, allows banks to own and
operate travel agencies in their branches.