National News

Online, GDS hotel bookings growing

Consumers continue an upward trend of shopping for hotels online and booking electronically, according to TravelCLICK's consolidated third-quarter eTRAK results released in December. The data show the Internet contributed 40 percent, or 8,581,936 reservations of the total Central Reservations Office at major hotel brands, a 24.8 percent increase over the same period in 2005. The data also highlight the continuing importance of Global Distribution System e-commerce with 34.7 percent, or 7,419,408 bookings, of CRO reservations coming through those channels. This is the second quarter that Internet reservations surpassed GDS bookings, which are reservations made through travel-agent focused Global Distribution Systems.
Source: Travel Advance

Bipartisan travel industry reaches out

Travel leaders said they look forward to continuing to work with both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, as the industry serves to enhance America economically and helps improve the nation’s image around the world. “New policy priorities for the 110th Congress will require new strategies to enhance our nation’s travel and tourism industry,” said Jonathan M. Tisch, chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels, and chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable. In addition, priorities for the travel industry include reform of visa and entry policy, retention of the Visa Waiver Program, support for the US-VISIT program, appropriate implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, greater investment in our nation’s transportation infrastructure, visitor access to public lands, and pro-growth tax policies.
Source: Travel Industry Association

US Airways, Delta launch PR battle

Delta Air Lines' creditors and a bankruptcy judge will decide whether US Airways buys Delta, but that isn't stopping both airlines from battling for public opinion. Both carriers have hired big names in the financial public relations business to help shape the views of Wall Street analysts, airline employees and airline customers as well as creditors and judges. In a surprise announcement on Nov. 15, US Airways publicly offered Delta's bankruptcy creditors $8 billion in stock and cash for Delta, which is in Chapter 11. Delta's management has rebuffed the offer.
Source: Travel Advance

New report focused on emerging markets

China and India together account for more than one-third of the world’s population and are quickly emerging as two of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies. Recent changes in the political, economic, and social climates of these Asian giants have created burgeoning middle classes (which some estimate to be in the hundreds of millions) that have a growing desire and increasing ability to travel across Asia and beyond. These and other factors, including forecasts of outbound travel and travel to the U.S. from these countries, are profiled in TIA’s newest research report: Emerging International Tourism Markets, 2006 Edition.
Source: Travel Industry Association

Executives share ways to make foreign visitors feel more welcome

Tourism industry executives, educators and other business leaders recently met with top officials of the Bush administration, marking the first step toward changing the manner in which foreign visitors are greeted upon arrival to the U.S. The committee charged with this task is the Secure Borders and Open Doors Advisory Committee chaired by Dr. Jared L. Cohen, president of Carnegie Mellon University, and John Chen, chairman, CEO and president of Sybase Inc. The committee will provide advice and recommendations to State and Department of Homeland Security officials on efforts to maintain security while improving the way the U.S. welcomes visitors from overseas.
Source: Travel Industry Association