Business Travel News - July 7, 2008 - (Page 1)

JULY 7, 2008 INSIDE First-Bag Fee Adds Loyalty Value . . . . . . . . 3 Amex, StarCite Pilot Group Payment Tool . . . 4 BTN Research: Emerging Markets . . . . . . . 10 J.D. Power: Airline Satisfaction Drops . . . . 16 Orbitz Folds In Travelport For Business. . . . . 18 3 6 18 CEO TO EXPAND TYCO DEPLOYS RADIUS’ CIRCLE AGENCY TOOLS AUTOMATION RECRUITER BTNonline.com New head Vasiliou Rose Speckmann Travelocity builds seeks global growth, makes online, recruiting tool for TMC acquisitions. global, mtgs. moves. Lockheed’s Wooten. Locales Levy Taxi Fuel Fees Continental Takes Star Turn BY ELISSA HUNTER BY JAY BOEHMER Several of the largest business travel destinations have introduced or are considering introducing taxicab fuel surcharges in response to increasing gas prices. Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Miami-Dade County all implemented such surcharges in the past few months, and Las Vegas and surrounding Clark County are implementing one in early July. Some other cities, such as Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles and Seattle, previously imposed some kind of taxi fuel surcharge, while New York has shown no interest in levying such fees. Continued on page 25 CONTINENTAL’S KELLNER Changing alliance partners Continental’s plan to leave SkyTeam and tightly align with United Airlines and its Star Alliance partners comes short of the merger agreement many expected earlier this year, but the move poses a competitive defense against the strengthened SkyTeam alliance as the Delta-Northwest deal moves forward. Continental and United also plan to launch a fourway joint venture with Air Canada and Lufthansa—a plan that mimics in part what its SkyTeam partners Delta-Northwest and Air France-KLM are building. Such deepened relationships can provide some of the revenue benefits of a merger without the risk, retired aviation professor and airline merger consultant Darryl Jenkins said, adding, “The alliance has less risk, but it also has less reward. A merger has more risk, Continued on page 23 HOTELIERS GAUGE ECONOMY AS SOME BUYERS REVISIT ’08 DEALS 2009 Hotel Season To See Slight Delay BY MICHAEL B. BAKER ONE-ON-ONE CWT PRESIDENT AND CEO DOUGLAS ANDERSON Buyers could face slight delays in hotel negotiations this year and reluctance for multiyear deals as hoteliers wait to see how the economy pans out. Yet consultants warn against allowing too much of a delay in the request-for-proposals process. At the same time, some buyers are using the economic dip as a chance for strategic renegotiation of 2008 rates, but hoteliers said Postmaster: Newspaper Handling/Periodicals Postaage Continued on page 6 Continued on page 24 ERIC WONG it’s happening only on a small scale. Kathy Pruett, senior director of consulting at BCD Travel’s consulting arm Advito, said the timing is a mixed bag among clients. Some plan to start the RFP process at the usual time, the beginning of July. Pruett’s early discussions with hotel chains indicated they may hold off in anticipation of having another good year regarding rates. Mega CEO Eyes Cost, Growth Plans New Carlson Wagonlit Travel president and CEO Douglas Anderson recently spoke with Business Travel News editor-in-chief David Meyer and travel management editor Seth Harris about shedding costs, finding the right mix of acquisitive and organic growth and keeping the company at full speed in the current economic conditions. BTN: When you were appointed CEO in April, you spoke with BTN about reevaluating the compa- http://BTNonline.com http://www.choicehotels.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Business Travel News - July 7, 2008

Business Travel News - July 7, 2008
Contents
Inside Track: U.S., U.K. Seek Entry Rule Reciprocity
Profile: Tyco Upgrades Program with Agency Tools
BTN Research: Emerging Market Hotels Boom
Forum: Delta-NWA Deal Creates Global Airline
Aviation: J.D. Power Shows Satisfaction Drop
Travel Mgmt Tech: Travelocity Builds Recruit Tool
Executive Dashboard: Hoteliers Foresee Discounts
Washington Wire: House OKs Watch List Redress

Business Travel News - July 7, 2008