On the Go – November 24, 2021

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

Behind The Scenes With Delta in Atlanta (Source: Delta News Hub)
CBS News offered a behind-the-scenes look at the busy holiday season operation at Delta Air Lines’ Atlanta hub. “It may look like chaos to the average person, but there is a ballet taking place here,” explained Matt Sparks, vice president of airport operations for Delta.

Inside United’s Houston High-Tech Upgrades (Source: KHOU-TV)
A Houston television station offered a behind-the-scenes look at the high-tech upgrades United Airlines is making at the city’s Bush Intercontinental Airport. Highlights include a new baggage system and virtual ramp tower operations including up to 45 cameras monitoring all ground activity.

Delta Plans Codesharing Partnership With Italy’s ITA (Source: Simple Flying)
Delta Air Lines and ITA have filed for governmental permission to establish a codesharing partnership for Delta’s domestic flights and ITA’s flights in Europe. The partnership could expand connection options for passengers to destinations in Mexico, Egypt and Tunisia.

Delta Expands Network, Adds New Routes (Source: TravelPulse)
Delta Air Lines is adding new routes from New York City’s LaGuardia Airport to Providence, R.I., and Albany, the New York capital. Delta is also expanding service from its hub at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.

Delta Invests in Seatback Entertainment System Upgrade (Source: Deadline Hollywood)
Some airlines are shifting in-flight entertainment to streaming options that rely on passengers’ own devices, but Delta Air Lines is investing in its seatback system. The airline not only upgraded the technology, it also made a variety of exclusive content deals that range from Peloton meditation videos to an episode of “Queer Eye” where a Delta employee gets a makeover.

General Interest

Australia to Open Borders to Some Foreign Visitors (Source: Business Travel News)
The Australian federal government is further relaxing its Covid-19 border closures, with skilled workers and certain temporary visa holders allowed to enter the country beginning Dec. 1 without the need to apply for an exemption. The new rules will apply to fully vaccinated skilled workers and students, as well as humanitarian, working holiday maker and provisional family visa holders.

What To Do When Your Luggage Is Delayed Or Lost By An Airline (Source: The Points Guy)
If you’re even a semifrequent traveler, you’ve probably experienced that dreaded moment at baggage claim at least once: The bags for your flight start flowing onto the carousel and one by one, they’re picked up by your fellow passengers. The crowd dwindles in direct correlation with the number of bags on the belt and soon it’s just you — with maybe a few other unlucky souls — as the carousel grinds to a halt. Your heart sinks as you realize your bag didn’t arrive with you.

Security

TSA Reports Pandemic Record For Passenger Numbers (Source: CBS News)
The Transportation Security Administration screened the largest number of passengers in one day on Nov. 19 since the start of the pandemic as the Thanksgiving holiday travel begins. The TSA and airlines say they have sufficient staff to handle passenger volume that is expected to come close to pre-pandemic levels.

Airports

Colorado Springs Airport Plans Major Terminal Upgrade (Source: The Gazette)
Colorado Springs, Colo., airport is planning a major renovation of its passenger terminal that is expected to cost up to $20 million. Passenger volumes at the airport have surged since Southwest Airlines began service in March.

Hotels

Marriott Agrees to ‘Prominently’ Disclose Resort Fees (Source: Business Travel News)
Marriott International has agreed to “prominently disclose” its mandatory fees, including resort fees, on the first page of its U.S. booking websites as part of the total room rate, as part of a settlement reached with the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office.

Accor Launches New Collection Brand (Source: Business Travel News)
Accor has launched a new brand, the Emblems Collection, a portfolio of boutique hotels and resorts, the company announced Tuesday. The first property to join is the Guiyang Art Centre Hotel, located in China’s Guizhou province and slated to open in December 2022. Accor expects the new brand to grow to 60 properties around the world by 2030.

Holiday Inn Express Hits 3,000-Hotel Milestone (Source: Travel Weekly)
Another 650 Holiday Inn Express hotels are expected to open in the coming years, with the brand accounting for more than a third of IHG’s global pipeline. Holiday Inn Express launched 30 years ago and is now present in 50 countries.

Rental Cars

Rental Car Shortage Continues (Source: Travel Weekly)
The car rental industry is still plagued with supply issues, which will affect holiday travel. Travelers are advised to book early and expect prices that could be as much as 75% higher than 2019.

Leisure Travel

Lockdowns in Austria, Germany Force Christmas Market Cancellations (Source: Travel Market Report)
While travel restrictions have largely shrunk over the time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, news this week was a wake-up call for many in travel that its impact is still alive.  Austria last week confirmed it would be one of the first western European countries to head back into lockdown after its seven-day COVID infection rate hit a record 1,110 per 100,000 people.

5 Hotels For The History Lover (Source: Fox Business)
Here are five hotels that will appeal to history buffs. Most of them opened in the 19th century, like Palmer House in Chicago, which offered guests the city’s first rooms with electric lights and telephones.