THIS WEEK'S HEADLINES

Continental follows United, matching American's distribution fee
July 19, 2006 - Continental joined United in matching the $3.50 per-segment fee initiated by American for agents who use non-preferred booking channels beginning Sept. 1, and took the additional step of putting agents on notice that it definitely will not maintain “full content” in those non-preferred systems. (source: travelweekly.com - free registration required)

The management of Travel-On would like to reassure our valued clients that these new GDS distribution fees imposed by the airlines will not impact our services or fees to our clients at this time.

Savvy Consumer: Booking Frequent Flier Flights
Air travel has bounced back big time since 9/11, so there aren't as many empty seats that airlines can offer to frequent fliers. Some airlines require travelers to cash in more miles to get a ticket. Others have eliminated business class seats, so it's harder to use miles for upgrades.

Marriott Stubs Out Cigarettes
July 19, 2006 - The multi-branded lodging company is eliminating smoking from its more than 2,300 hotels and its 400,000 guestrooms. Highly anticipated, the expected move takes effect in September and will affect Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites and Marriott ExecuStay brands.

Taxes Comprise 16% Of Typical Airfare
July 17, 2006 - Ask airline executives how much taxes and fees eat into the price of a domestic roundtrip and they likely will tell you that they hover around 26 percent per ticket. It's no surprise, then, that taxes often follow fuel as the biggest gripe expressed by domestic carriers.

Buyers Face Further Hikes In '07 Hotel Rate Season
July 17, 2006 - Corporate travel managers reluctantly are accepting the inevitability of another round of room rate increases in the upcoming negotiating season. Many suppliers contend favorable market conditions affords them leeway to raise rates.

Most See Rise In Meeting Spend: Higher Prices, More Meetings Push Corporate Expenses
July 17, 2006 - Despite record increases in hotel rates, an air industry that has little to gain in negotiating group business and an overall focus on making corporations economically lean and mean, a new exclusive Meetings Monitor survey of 220 corporate meeting buyers showed that many companies have increased the number of meetings and events held over the past six months versus the second half of 2005.

EU bill would force airlines to advertise taxes and fees
July 18, 2006 - The European Commission on Tuesday proposed legislation that would force airlines to advertise fares inclusive of all taxes, charges and fees, sparing travelers the shock of hidden costs when it is time to pay.

Airline battle moves from coach to business class
July 17, 2006 - U.S. airlines are shifting their battle for customers from coach to business class. Example: American Airlines is revamping the business-class sections on its long-haul jets, adding lie-flat seats and individual entertainment centers to better compete with carriers that already offer similar creature comforts.

Business travel briefing: July marks the dog days
July 17, 2006 - Stormy summer weather, too many scheduled flights and cut-to-the-bone staffing levels have created a toxic stew of last-minute cancellations at the end of the month.