March 2007
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National News Wellness tourism soothes the mind, body and spirit According to www.traveltowellness.com, wellness travel can be defined as travel for the mind, body and spirit. It allows travelers to relax and rejuvenate, learn healthy lifestyle habits, or to reconnect with themselves through nature or meditation. Wellness tourism has been approached a number of different ways throughout the industry, including resorts solely dedicated to health and wellness, hotels opening “wellness suites,” and updated food and beverage and fitness programs. One of the most well-known “wellness” centers is Canyon Ranch, a wellness lifestyle company dedicated to helping visitors make a commitment to healthy living. Wellness tourism doesn’t need to mean a 100 percent brand overhaul; companies can incorporate wellness aspects into their brands with programs simply by providing healthy snacks and culinary options or offering fitness equipment in guestrooms. Marriott’s Fairfield Inn and Suites in Chicago implemented “wellness suites,” which offer organic cotton bedding, an in-room air purification system, filtered water in the faucet and showers, in-room yoga kits and instructional videos, among other amenities. Another example of incorporating wellness into a brand is in Wyndham Hotels and Resorts’ new Fields & Sun Breakfast program. The brand will offer a new menu with high-quality ingredients and a focus on nutrition and fresh, seasonal ingredients.
The Bush administration unveiled plans to increase taxes on business and private aircraft, a dramatic shift in how the government funds aviation that could reduce the portion that airline passengers pay. Airlines lobbied heavily for the change, arguing that the current tax on airline tickets unfairly penalizes passengers while the rapidly growing number of private and corporate jets don't pay their fare share. The president's fiscal 2008 budget would eliminate the ticket tax on commercial airlines fares in October 2008 in favor of a system in which airlines pay fees to the government, based on their use of the air traffic control system. The proposal won the support of the Air Transport Association.
Amtrak has named IMAGES USA, a multicultural marketing communications agency based in Atlanta, as the railroad's advertising agency of record for both its nationwide long-distance service and its premium Acela Express service between Boston and Washington, D.C. IMAGES USA launched two new campaigns in February - one for long-distance service and one for Acela Express. The new campaigns target multicultural audiences via print, radio and online advertising in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Miami.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation will work in partnership to promote and develop the multi-billion dollar youth and student market. Youth tourism currently represents the fastest-growing sector of the travel industry, accounting for 20 percent of international arrivals. Compared with average tourists, young travelers stay longer, spend more and seek out a wider mix of travel and educational experiences.
American Airlines has begun ticketing international and domestic premium-class reservations through Expedia after the carrier pulled such fares from the site in February. On Jan. 11, American said it was immediately pulling international fares as well as domestic first class and business fares from Expedia's consumer site as well as any other Web site powered by Expedia. The dispute has its roots in the content wars of last summer, when the airlines wrestled concessions from GDS reservations systems, lowering the distribution fees airlines paid to the GDSs and displaying full content only through preferred channels.
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