ome corporate travel managers whose
companies are customers of Rosenbluth
International don't buy the notion that American
Express, which plans to acquire its 111-year-old rival,
has a similar corporate culture. A consultant we know told us he's
received eight or nine phone calls from Rosenbluth customers who
want to put their accounts out for bid, pronto.
Culture, schmulture, we said to a longtime observer who has
dealt with both companies. What's the real difference between the
two?
He told us that "when an American Express vice president doesn't
want to play as part of the team, he'll eventually get fired.
"When a Rosenbluth vice president won't play, they just bring in
another psychologist." He swears this is true.
• • •
If you ever wondered what happened to Candace
Sneberger, who played a huge role in turning Rosenbluth
from a local Philadelphia agency into a business travel powerhouse,
look no farther than Philly.
Sneberger founded VacationWired.com to appeal to busy
executives who need a break.
• • •
Bovey Castle, which promises to deliver some
features that are unique to the hospitality industry, set April 9
as the day it will open for business.
Bovey is the latest project of Peter de Savary,
the entrepreneur, America's Cup sailor and cigar aficionado who
developed Scotland's Skibo Castle and the St. James's Club. The
castle is located in England's Dartmoor National Park, about two
hours and 15 minutes by train from London.
Naturally, it will have a championship golf course and $12
million worth of refurbishment and other goodies.
• • •
Project XSky, a thrill-you-half-to-death ride
atop the Stratosphere Casino Hotel & Tower in
Las Vegas that promises to make you "lose control of all bodily
functions," is in serious search of a permanent name.
The moniker for the ride depends largely on the company that
ultimately ends up being the ride's corporate sponsor (meetings
with candidates are being held this week).
Because the raison d'etre of XSky is to rise up, lurch down and
pretend that it is hurling you off the hotel's tower, may we
suggest Pfizer, maker of Viagra, whose blue color would coordinate
nicely with the ride's design and whose manufacturer presumably
knows a thing or two about ups and downs.
• • •
In the wake of Orbitz's airline ticket fee hike from $5 to $6,
Expedia made a big point of telling us that
although it hasn't raised its fee, "we haven't ruled out the
possibility and are always evaluating our options."
Watch this space.
• • •
Coming soon to Galileo agency subscribers: a
slick new packaging tool that includes international travel
options, courtesy of Neat Group, Galileo's new
sister company.
• • •
Abacus dominates the GDS scene in Asia, but
Galileo International is viewing the rebirth of
TicTas, the former national marketing company of
Amadeus in Hong Kong, as the NMC of Worldspan as an
opportunity.
According to an internal communique, Galileo's "ability to
successfully compete against the TicTas organization in Hong Kong
is proven, and we welcome Worldspan's token presence in Asia."
TicTas' agreement with Worldspan calls for the immediate
conversion of its 270 affiliated agencies, or about 15% of the
lucrative Hong Kong market.
E-mail Michele McDonald at [email protected].