On the Go – August 17, 2023

Industry News – Click on the title to read the full article. Many of the sources below require a free registration to gain access to the article. If a paid registration is required, the individual source will be noted.

Airlines

U.S. And China Agree To Double Air Connections (Source: Travel Weekly)
Air service between the U.S. and China will be allowed to double by the end of October under a new agreement reached by the countries.  Between the U.S. and China, airlines from each country are currently limited to a combined 12 roundtrip operations per week. Beginning Sept. 1, that number will increase to 18 and then go up again to 24 on Oct. 29.

Southwest Airlines Announces Free Same-Day Standby For All Tickets (Source: USA Today)
Southwest Airlines is updating perks in some of its fare classes and giving greater flexibility to those flying on its cheapest “Wanna Get Away” fares.  Customers in the “Wanna Get Away” bracket can take advantage of free same-day standby as of Wednesday, according to the airline. This means all Southwest passengers will be able to move to other departures with open seats if their travel plans change.

General Interest

GSA Hikes 2024 Per Diem, Lodging Allowance (Source: Business Travel News)
The U.S. General Services Administration for fiscal year 2024 increased its standard allowable per diem rates for federal travelers by $9 to $166, GSA announced Wednesday. The per diem is the maximum allowance that federal employees are reimbursed for expenses incurred while traveling in U.S. areas not designated as “non-standard areas.”

Should They Allow Phone Calls On Planes?  You Probably Won’t Like The Answer (Source: USA Today)
Is it time to allow phone calls on planes?  European regulators think so. This summer, the EU quietly cleared in-flight cellphones for takeoff, saying that allowing cellphones on planes would allow for more technological innovation. The EU designated certain frequencies for in-flight 5G technology, which would allow airlines to create an in-flight network capable of handling phone calls.

Airports

Boston Airport Opens $640M Terminal Expansion (Source: WCVB-TV)
Boston’s Logan International Airport quietly opened its $640 million expansion of Terminal E this week. The modern structure with a sweeping red roof houses new gates, a waiting area, retail space and a Delta Air Lines Sky Club. Massport, which operates the airport, said a grand opening is planned for early October.

Hotels

Some Hilton Hotels To Bring Back Daily Housekeeping (Source: USA Today)
Hotels have been adjusting their housekeeping policies post-COVID lockdowns, with various brands shifting toward an opt-in model that provides daily housekeeping only to guests who request it.  At least one operator is reversing course.

Historic Boston Building Trades One Hotel For Another (Source: MeetingsNet)
Renovations preceding the opening of the 403-room Dagny hotel breathe new life into the downtown property.  After a $39 million renovation, the Hilton Boston Downtown/Financial District has relaunched as a The Dagny Boston.  Taking over the 1928 high-rise originally known as the Batterymarch Building, The Dagny has 377 redesigned guest rooms, 26 renovated suites, and 9,000 square feet of event space.

Leisure Travel

Where Are The Best Fall Colors?  Map Out Best Dates And Locations For 2023 Leaf-Peeping (Source: USA Today)
The Farmer’s Almanac, which has been predicting long-range weather outlooks annually since 1818, has released its 2023 fall leaves, peak color forecast.  The autumnal equinox – which officially marks the beginning of astronomical fall in the Northern Hemisphere – signals the beginning of an explosive shift in the landscape to brilliant hues of red, yellow and orange. Days will shrink as the sun continues to rise later and nightfall arrives earlier, until the winter solstice.

In Vegas, Renovations Come To New York-New York Hotel & Casino (Source: MeetingsNet)
First opened in 1997, New York-New York Hotel & Casino followed the 1993 opening of the Luxor and preceded the 1999 opening of Paris Las Vegas as a property that delivers to Las Vegas visitors the feel of a different destination. Now, the MGM Resorts property is taking that theme one step farther, redesigning its guest rooms to have a New York ambience similar to the hotel’s public spaces while also making the guest-room space more functional.