On the Go – September 28, 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 CEO: Frequent Flyer Modifications Coming (Source: CNBC)
Delta Air Lines will announce further “modifications” to its frequent flyer program in coming weeks, CEO Ed Bastian said. “We need to make certain that we can serve our higher tiers with the level of premium experience that you deserve and that you expect,” Bastian said, but recent changes “probably went too far in doing that.”

Delta To Add European Destinations For Summer 2024 (Source: Business Travel News)
Delta Air Lines will add new routes to Europe for summer 2024 as well as expand service to Australia and New Zealand beginning this fall, the carrier announced Friday.  From New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, Delta on May 23, 2024, will add nonstop service to Naples, Italy, as well as relaunch service to Shannon, Ireland, last operated in 2019. The carrier also recently announced new service beginning May 9 between Minneapolis-Saint Paul and Dublin. Delta also will add a nonstop flight beginning April 9 between JFK and Munich, Germany, operating three times per week.

General Interest

How A Government Shutdown Would Affect Travel (Source: The Points Guy)
A government shutdown looms as Congress remains in gridlock over extending funding past a major deadline.  If a shutdown were to happen, most federal agencies would stop work, and most government workers would be furloughed, save for those who work in agencies deemed as “essential services” such as Social Security and Medicare.  Also considered essential: most of the federal workers involved with air travel.

Business Travel Per Diem Rates For 2023-24 Released By IRS (Source: CPA Practice Advisor)
A notice published on Monday by the IRS outlines special per diem rates for 2023-24 that take effect at the beginning of October. These rates apply to expenses incurred for meals, lodging and incidental expenses during business trips.

New EU Visa Program ETIAS Won’t Start Until 2025 (Source: Travel Market Report)
The long-talked-about visa program for inbound travelers to Europe is reportedly delayed yet again.  According to Schengen Visa Info, which cited European Union (EU) officials, the start of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) program has now been delayed to May 2025 at the earliest because of issues launching the Entry/Exit System (EES) that would track visitors into Europe.

Security

Global Entry Just Got Even Faster With New Mobile App (Source: TravelSmarter)
Reentry to the United States after a trip abroad will be even easier for Global Entry members, thanks to a new mobile app.  Global Entry is currently the fastest way to return to the United States after a trip abroad.  This program, available through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency, prescreens travelers and allows them to skip the often lengthy customs lines at airports and other border crossings.

Airports

Construction Progressing On Florida Airport Terminal (Source: Bradenton Herald)
Construction is underway on a 75,300-square-foot terminal at Florida’s Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. The completion deadline is December 2024.

Hotels

Westin Denver Downtown Renovation Completed (Source: Meetings & Conventions)
The Westin Denver Downtown has completed a property-wide, multimillion-dollar renovation aiming to transform the hotel’s guest experience. The project added two more guest rooms, a new lobby space with a living wall and a grand staircase, and a new meeting space with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Marriott Launches Midscale Brand in EMEA (Source: Business Travel News)
Marriott International Wednesday announced the launch of a new midscale brand, Four Points Express by Sheraton, in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Marriott’s Four Points Express by Sheraton brand was designed for the “practical” business and leisure traveler in the affordable price scale in the EMEA market, the company said in a statement. 

Leisure Travel

7 Spooky Destinations For A Halloween Vacation (Source: The Points Guy)
For many people around the world, the start of fall means one thing: Halloween.  Many believe this holiday can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which means “summer’s end.” People dressed in costumes to celebrate the harvest season and ward off evil spirits (which they believed to be more prominent during this time of year).