Contiki offers to pay guests' passport fees
Youth tour specialist Contiki is enticing travelers to get their first passport, picking up the passport cost for the first 100 Americans who book a tour of seven days or longer. Contiki said 50% of its demographic, travelers ages 18 to 35, have never owned a passport. A passport costs $135 ($110 application fee and $25 processing fee).
Marriott apologizes to China over survey
Marriott International apologized to China's government for referring to Tibet and self-ruled Taiwan as countries in a customer survey. "We don't support anyone who subverts the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China, and we do not intend in any way to encourage or incite any such people or groups," Marriott wrote on its website. The survey asked customers in which country they lived and gave options including Tibet, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Ski group gets a name: Alterra Mountain Co.
The KSL Capital Partners-led group that acquired Mammoth Resorts and Intrawest last year has named itself Alterra Mountain Co. The company oversees 12 North American ski resorts, including Colorado's Steamboat and Winter Park; California's Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows and Mammoth Mountain; and Utah's Deer Valley as well as British Columbia's CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures.
Kenya Air launching nonstop to New York
Kenya Airways will launch nonstop, daily service between Nairobi and New York JFK on Oct. 28, its first nonstop to the U.S. Flights aboard a 234-passenger Boeing 787 Dreamliner will depart Nairobi at 11:25 p.m. and arrive the next day in New York at 6:25 a.m. The return flight will leave New York at 12:25 p.m. and arrive in Nairobi the next day at 10:55 a.m.
Hilton raises bonuses in its loyalty program
Hilton is increasing elite-tier perks for its loyalty program but taking away the ability to earn airline miles on hotel stays. Starting April 1, the elite-tier bonus will increase to 20% for Silver, 80% for Gold and 100% for Diamond members. With those bonus increases comes the elimination of other bonus programs, including Points & Miles, which goes away April 1.
Int'l visitor spending down 3% through Nov.
International travelers in the U.S. spent 3.3% less from January through November 2017 than the year before, the U.S. Travel Association said. The numbers reverse what had been a spending increase on the part of international travelers, as spending had been up by 3% through June. The drop translates to a loss of $4.6 billion and 40,000 jobs, according to the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Friends & Colleagues
The Alaska Air Group has selected Gary Beck as incoming CEO of its regional subsidiary Horizon Air. Beck, who served as vice president of flight operations for Alaska from 2008 to 2015, replaces Dave Campbell, who resigned effective Jan. 5. Alaska also tapped Constance von Muehlen as COO for Horizon. She most recently served as Alaska's managing director of airframe, engine and component maintenance repair and overhaul. • • • Generali Global Assistance has named James Sion COO and Mark Taber chief insurance officer of its travel insurance division. Sion previously was COO of consumer insurance for AIG in the Americas. He also held various roles at Allianz. Taber's role of chief insurance officer is newly created. In addition to setting the strategic direction for underwriting results and profitability, he will serve as the travel insurance division's appointed actuary. Previously, Taber was the claims performance analytics executive at CSAA Insurance Group. • • • Hotel brand and management company Dream Hotel Group appointed Ariel Freeman Sanett to the role of vice president of development. In this role, Sanett will be responsible for developing Dream Hotel Group's portfolio of brands: Dream Hotels, Time Hotels, Chatwal and Unscripted Hotels. Sanett joins Dream Hotel Group with over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Most recently, she served as the vice president of business development at Crescent Hotels & Resorts in Washington.