On the Go – August 24, 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

Delta Upgrades Inflight Tech To Aid In Medical Emergencies (Source: Fox Business)
Delta Air Lines is upgrading the medical technology available to help with inflight emergencies, including diagnostic equipment and MedLink. These technologies give flight attendants immediate access to doctors on the ground through their mobile devices. “Our primary goals are to protect the health and safety of our crew and our passengers in flight when they have a medical emergency,” said Henry Ting, Delta’s chief health officer.

Southwest Airlines Has Restricted EarlyBird Boarding  (Source: Travel Weekly)
Southwest Airlines has cut back on the availability of its EarlyBird check-in, which provides an opportunity for flyers to pay for an early boarding position.  Beginning Aug. 15, EarlyBird check-in became subject to availability, with the product not offered on certain flights, routes and days.

July U.S. Airfare Costs Continue Down  (Source: Business Travel News)
The average price in July for a U.S. roundtrip air ticket dropped to $528, a 5 percent decrease both year over year and month over month, according to Airline Reporting Corp.’s monthly report. This is the fourth month in a row with a year-over-year decline.

Airports

FAA Invests $121M In Airport Safety Projects (Source: CNN)
The Federal Aviation Administration will give $121 million to US airports for infrastructure projects aimed at improving safety. The funding is intended to support projects to reduce the risk of runway incursions by relocating and improving taxiways. “The FAA is serious about ending runway incursions and we are putting substantial resources behind our efforts,” Associate Administrator for Airports Shannetta Griffin said.

Atlanta Airport Opens Onsite Emergency Care Center (Source: WANF-TV)
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has opened the nation’s first onsite triage clinic, hoping to reduce the number of people transported to emergency rooms. “In addition to providing low-acuity medical support, the center can do high-level diagnosis using point-of-care blood testing, ultrasounds and cardiac monitoring,” Fire Chief Rod Smith said.

Hotels

Hotel Revamped by “Fixer Upper” Stars Opening in November (Source: People)
Hotel 1928, the 33-room historic property in Waco, Texas, that was redesigned by “Fixer Upper” stars Chip and Joanna Gaines, is now accepting reservations ahead of its Nov. 1 grand opening. A six-episode series called “Fixer Upper: The Hotel” will take viewers through the renovation process and is set to debut on the Magnolia Network in November.

IHG Names New Midscale Brand Garner (Source: Travel Weekly)
IHG Hotels & Resorts has unveiled the name of its new midscale conversion brand, Garner.  IHG envisions Garner will be the “leading choice for guests wanting great value stays at high-quality properties, and for owners seeking higher returns in the midscale segment.”

Ground Transportation

Amtrak Orders More Trains To Meet Demand (Source: Travel Market Report)
Amtrak has added 10 more Amtrak Airo trains to its current order of 73 to meet the growing demand for rail travel in the United States.  The first of this new class of train is scheduled to debut in 2026. When they debut, the Airo trains will offer dedicated power, USB-C ports at every seat, along with seatback tablet and phone holders; enhanced leg room and adjustable headrests; dedicated water stations in each car; and 5G Wi-Fi.

Leisure Travel

The 10 Best Restaurants In Las Vegas (Source: TravelSmarter)
Las Vegas is known for its vibrant nightlife, world-class entertainment, and of course, its incredible dining scene.  With so many restaurants to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide where to eat.  To help you out, we have compiled a list of the top 10 must-try restaurants in Las Vegas.  From fine dining establishments to casual eateries, there is something for everyone on this list.