On the Go – May 2, 2024

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

Southwest Airlines Is Considering Changes To Its Quirky Boarding And Seating Practices (Source: U.S. News & World Report)
Over the years, Southwest customers learned to check in online exactly 24 hours before departure to get the best shot at grabbing the seat they wanted. In 2009, the airline began charging an extra fee — called EarlyBird — to move up in the boarding line.

General Interest

How Biscoff Cookies Became Known As An Inflight Snack (Source: Yahoo!)
Biscoff cookies became identified as an inflight snack when food broker Michael McGuire discovered the Belgian cookie in his travels and sold it to Delta Air Lines.  American Airlines and United Airlines have also offered the spiced shortbread to passengers.

Airports

FAA Awards $76M For 45 Airport Infrastructure Projects (Source: Simple Flying)
The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded $76.1 million in grants for 45 airport-related infrastructure projects in 22 states. The latest round of funding under the 2021 infrastructure law includes $27.8 million for Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport and $8.3 million for the airport in Bangor, Maine, to support runway improvements, as well as $6.4 million for Colorado Springs Municipal Airport to improve its terminal and add a new customs facility, $3 million for the Melbourne, Fla., airport to install a new baggage system, and $1.8 million for taxiway upgrades at the airport in South Bend, Ind.

Security

New Technology At Pittsburgh International Airport To Increase Efficiency At TSA Checkpoint (Source: CBS News)
New technology at the Pittsburgh International Airport will increase efficiency at checkpoints and help agents identify fraudulent documents, the TSA says.  The TSA unveiled the latest generation of Credential Authentication Technology on Wednesday. The technology is used to scan a traveler’s photo ID and confirm their identity and flight details, and the TSA says the new units are equipped with a camera to capture a real-time photo of the traveler.

Hotels

Hotels Update Public Spaces To Attract Remote Workers (Source: Hotels Magazine)
Hotels are reimagining their public spaces to accommodate hybrid and remote workers who are seeking a welcoming environment, reliable internet connectivity, comfortable seating and access to food and beverages throughout the day. Chains such as Radisson Blu, Hilton Hotels and Elite World Hotels & Resorts have implemented WorkinLobby, a membership service that provides guests with a work-friendly space, while Marriott has introduced Day Pass, its own membership program providing amenities such as a functional desk and on-site business facilities.

Hyatt Adding Pelotons At 800 Hotels – And Giving Loyalty Points For Workouts (Source: Skift)
Hyatt has struck a deal with Peloton to feature the fitness company’s bikes and rowing machines at 800 properties. Members of the hotel group’s loyalty program will earn points for Peloton workouts at participating hotels.  The Chicago-based hotel operator will install Peloton bikes at every one of its properties in the U.S., Canada, Britain, Germany, Austria, and Australia. It will also add Peloton’s rowing machine to some U.S. properties.

Denver’s ‘Carbon-Positive’ Hotel To Open In September (Source: Meetings & Conventions)
Populus, touted as the country’s first “carbon-positive” hotel — or perhaps more accurately, “climate-positive” — is now accepting guest and event bookings for September 2024 and beyond. Managed by Aparium Hotel Group, a lifestyle hotel company, and developed by local real estate developer Urban Villages, the property aims to provide groundbreaking sustainability alongside vibrant experiences and iconic design. The companies have committed to offsetting the hotel’s embodied and operational carbon footprints.

Ground Transportation

Hertz To Sell Another 10K EVs (Source: Business Travel News)
Hertz plans to sell an additional 10,000 electric vehicles from its fleet, on top of the 20,000 it announced in January it would sell, the company said during its first-quarter earnings call.  The company already has sold about 10,000 of the vehicles and expects to complete the sell-off of the full 30,000 by the end of the year, Keppy added.

Leisure Travel

Where To Have A Family Adventure In Florida (Source: Forbes)
When it comes to sun-soaked adventures, Florida reigns supreme. It was the most popular U.S. state among international visitors in 2022, according to the latest report from the International Trade Administration. Beyond its famed theme parks, the vacation destination offers plenty of exciting excursions for thrill-seekers of all ages.

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