On the Go – August 25, 2022

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 Will Launch Atlanta-Tel Aviv Route Early (Source: Simple Flying)
Delta Air Lines will begin its planned service from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport two months earlier than planned, on March 26, 2023. The airline also launched service from Boston Logan International Airport to Tel Aviv and services Tel Aviv from John F. Kennedy International Airport.

United CEO Offers Insight Into Labor Day Preparations (Source: CNN)
United CEO Scott Kirby offered CNN a behind the scenes look at its Denver training center to detail preparations ahead of the Labor Day holiday travel period. “We’re doing everything we can to get the airline running reliably,” Kirby said. “It’s our number-one priority.” The carrier has also hired 1,500 new pilots since the start of the year to support operations as demand for air travel returns.

Southwest Offers Online Boarding Position Upgrade (Source: The Points Guy)
Southwest Airlines is offering passengers the option of buying a premium position in the boarding line up to 24 hours in advance of a flight. The price depends on demand and the length of the flight.

Airports

Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport Is Going Digital (Source: Travel Market Report)
The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) this week announced a NIS 50 million ($15.3 USD) plan to completely digitize its check-in and security processes at Ben Gurion Airport.  While a number of processes will be changed, some of the bigger ones that will heavily impact the passenger experience include: 

Hotels

New Convention Hotel to Debut in Salt Lake City (Source: Meeting News)
The 700-room Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City will open this fall adjacent to the Salt Palace Convention Center. The new Utah property will have the largest rooftop terrace in the city, complete with a pool, cabanas and views of the surrounding mountains.  The rooms have been designed with an open floor plan, with hardwood floors and separate seating areas. The property’s largest guest room, the 1,751-square-foot Summit Suite, features 180-degree views of the city, Wasatch Mountains and Salt Lake Valley; the 1,094-square-foot Regency Suite, the second largest, also looks out on the mountains and downtown.

$110M Dorian Hotel Highlights Calgary Resurgence (Source: The Globe and Mail)
The $110-million Dorian, the newest luxury hotel in Calgary, is touted as a sign and driver of the Alberta city’s emergence as a cultural and tourism destination. The 27-story Marriott property, named after the protagonist in Oscar Wilde’s novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” boasts more than 300 rooms and three restaurants.

Marriott to Reflag 23 UK Regional Properties Under Delta Brand (Source: Business Traveler)
Marriott International has confirmed plans to reflag over 20 of its UK regional Marriott hotels under the Delta by Marriott brand.  A total of 23 properties are set to be rebranded, following an agreement between Marriott and the hotels’ owner.  Among those set to be reflagged include Manchester Airport Marriott Hotel, Liverpool Marriott Hotel City Centre, Edinburgh Marriott Hotel and Heathrow/Windsor Marriott Hotel. A full list can be seen below.

Ground Transportation

California Bullet Train Route Extensions Move Forward (Source: Los Angeles Times)
The California High-Speed Rail Authority board of directors approved an environmental report and preferred route for the extension of the state’s bullet train through the Bay Area, inching the project one step closer to reality.  The unanimous vote by the board earlier this month to certify the final environmental report for the section between San Francisco and San Jose clears the way for the 43-mile expansion between the two cities, according to a press release from the California High-Speed Rail Authority.