Author: R&R Partners

This Week in Travel & Tourism — 9/24/2012

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AIRLINE

Virgin America to offer nonstop flight from N.Y. to Calif. for winter

Virgin America plans to add a nonstop route from New York’s JFK airport to Palm Springs, Calif., beginning Dec. 22. The service will run on Saturdays throughout the winter season. “We’re pleased to be expanding in the market and offering a new nonstop option for travelers coming from New York to the desert this winter,” said John MacLeod, a senior vice president at Virgin America.

British Airways eyes no-wait electronic check-in

British Airways has developed a system that checks passengers in the day before their trip, selects their seat and sends a boarding pass electronically. The system, which would eliminate the need to check in at airports, will roll out on a trial basis.

U.S. airlines collect $932 million in bag fees in Q2

U.S. passenger airlines collected a total of $932 million in baggage fees in the second quarter, up from $816 million in the first quarter, according to figures released by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics on Tuesday.

InterJet will launch Orange Country-Mexico City flights

InterJet plans to offer daily nonstop flights from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif., to Mexico City and Guadalajara in mid-October.

TRAVEL AGENT

More agents are collaborating with OTA network, Expedia leader says

Expedia’s Travel Agent Affiliate Program is enjoying healthy growth in the ranks of its affiliated traditional travel agencies, and agents are boosting engagement with its platform, says Diego Pedrani, a director at Expedia Worldwide. “We currently work with more than 25,000 travel agency affiliates worldwide, and new agent signups continue to accelerate. We signed double the number of agents in the first three months of 2012 compared to the previous year,” Pedrani said.

CRUISE

2 decks of relaxation await on Norwegian Breakaway

Norwegian Cruise Line will debut its 23,000-square-foot, two-floor Mandara Spa on the Norwegian Breakaway. The spa will feature 13 heated loungers, a salt room, vitality pool, whirlpools, sauna, solarium, steam room, salon and barber shop. It will include 22 treatment rooms and offer cosmetic medical treatments including Botox injections.

ETC.

Six Vegas restaurants earn top honors from Wine Spectator

Six Las Vegas restaurants were honored with Wine Spectator’s Grand Award, the top honor in the publication’s annual Restaurant Wine List Awards. Aureole Las Vegas (at Mandalay Bay); Delmonico Steakhouse and Piero Selvaggio Valentino (both at the Venetian); Joel Robuchon Restaurant (MGM Grand); Picasso (Bellagio); and Restaurant Guy Savoy (Caesars Palace) earned Grand Award status.

This Week in Travel & Tourism — 9/17/2012

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INTERNATIONAL

Hawaiian Airlines is bidding for nonstop flights to Tokyo

Hawaiian Airlines is among the four U.S. airlines bidding for flight rights for nonstop travel between Haneda Airport in Tokyo and Kona, Hawaii. The flight rights were awarded to Delta Air Lines in 2010 with its service to Detroit, but when Delta suspended that route, the Department of Transportation decided to accept new bids. Delta, American Airlines and United Airlines have also submitted bids for routes to Tokyo through different U.S. cities.

Global tourism is on pace to reach 1 billion in 2012

International tourism numbers continue to grow, having risen 5% between January and June against the same period last year, says Taleb Rifai, secretary-general of the U.N. World Tourism Organization. Rifai predicts that global tourism will reach the 1 billion mark by the end of 2012. “As we lead up to the milestone of 1 billion, we need to ensure that the tourism sector is supported by adequate national policies and that we work to reduce existing barriers to the expansion of the sector, such as complicated visa procedures, increased direct taxation or limited connectivity,” Rifai said.

DOMESTIC

Travel firms note slow recovery of luxury segment

Hotel chains and travel booking firms say the luxury-travel segment is inching back toward a full recovery, with bookings in group and leisure showing the most stable growth. “The strongest segment by far has been leisure. The consumer is buying more premium rooms every year over the previous year,” said Chris Gabaldon, chief marketing officer of Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co.

AIRLINE

Fares on U.S. airlines rise for fourth time in 2012

Southwest Airlines last week raised about 10% of its routes by $10 per round-trip. United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Virgin America and JetBlue Airways raised some rates as well, marking the fourth time this year that U.S. airlines have increased fares.

Delays, cancellations hamper American Airlines’ performance

American Airlines has suffered poor performance in the past few days, with a steep number of flight cancellations implemented throughout the country and a sharp increase in flight delays, this feature says. The carrier is embroiled in a dispute with its pilots over impending mass employee layoffs and new cost-saving work policies. American Airlines has announced plans to cut its scheduled flights in September and October in light of alleged disruptive actions by its pilots.

Hawaiian Airlines passenger traffic grew 12.6 percent in August

Hawaiian Airlines has released its August and year-to-date statistics. The carrier’s number of total passengers increased 12.6% in August compared with the same month in 2011. Year-to-date passenger totals are up 8.4% over the same period last year.

Budget airlines are growing in a sluggish industry

Several airline executives spoke at Boyd Group International Aviation Forecast Summit on Monday to say that their low-cost airlines are growing during a sluggish economy. Executives from Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines spoke of the growth their airlines are experiencing. Consolidation was also a common topic at the summit, with leaders supporting the measures as being good for the industry.

JetBlue plans to roll out speedy in-flight Wi-Fi

Starting in the first quarter of next year, passengers aboard JetBlue flights will be able to access Wi-Fi service fast enough to stream movies and TV shows. According to an internal company e-mail, the low-cost carrier plans to partner with ViaSat to offer fast Wi-Fi that it says will give it a competitive advantage over its rivals. The e-mail says the service will be free during an initial trial period.

CRUISE

The Rockettes to christen Norwegian Cruise Line’s new ship The high-kicking Rockettes of Radio City Music Hall fame will christen the Norwegian Breakaway on May 8, Norwegian Cruise Line disclosed on Tuesday. The Breakaway will be the largest ship to be homeported in New York, and the cruise line said the choice of the Rockettes to serve as godmothers will deepen its ties to the city.

This Week in Travel & Tourism — 9/10/2012

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INTERNATIONAL

Las Vegas Sands will build EuroVegas casino resort in Madrid

Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon G. Adelson has announced that Madrid, not Barcelona, will be the site of a casino resort called EuroVegas. The company hasn’t yet revealed the project’s size or financing sources. “Progress toward resolution of the current economic challenges within Europe will be an important consideration,” the company said.

DOMESTIC

Hawaii expects continued growth in air seat capacity

The Hawaii Tourism Authority anticipates more growth in air travel to the state through the remainder of the year. Total air seat capacity for 2012 is expected to exceed 10 million seats, a 9% increase over last year. Total capacity is expected to reach 99% of the peak travel to Hawaii, which occurred in 2007.

Chicago travelers pay highest taxes in U.S.

Travelers incur the highest average daily tax burden in Chicago at $40.31, according to the GBTA Foundation. Considering general sales taxes on car rentals, hotel stays and meals, and what it terms as “discriminatory travel taxes” in the top 50 U.S. travel markets, GBTA found that New York ($37.98) and Boston ($34.58) followed Chicago at the top of the list.

AIRLINE

Allegian Air adds nonstop Vegas-Boise flights

Discount airline Allegiant Air will be adding nonstop flights between Boise, Idaho, and Las Vegas beginning Oct. 26. This will compete with a route already established by Southwest Airlines, which offers two daily, nonstop flights between Las Vegas and Boise.

Frontier means business with direct booking policy

Frontier Airlines is putting its foot down with a new penalty for passengers who do not book directly through its website. Fliers who book through online travel websites such as Expedia and Orbitz will not be able to obtain seat assignments until they check in, will pay more in fees and earn fewer frequent flier miles.

American is the first US airline to replace all paper manuals with iPads in its cockpits

The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday that pilots on American Airlines flights would be allowed to use iPads for the “electronic flight bag,” replacing the last bit of paper that pilots deal with, such as when flying below 10,000 feet.

CRUISE

Cruise lines work to attract more meetings business

New initiatives and ship amenities mark cruise lines’ continued drive to bring in more business from the meetings and incentives industry. “Cruising is a great way to engage and motivate employees, customers and channel partners in a unique setting that provides great value and experience through incredible built-in features,” said Christine Duffy, Cruise Lines International Association’s president and CEO. Cruise lines are touting the cost-effectiveness and higher levels of customization that cruise meetings can offer compared with meetings on land.

GROUP TRAVEL

Group travel a growth category

A June survey of 216 agents who had booked groups in the previous 12 months, undertaken jointly by Travel Weekly and TravelAge West, revealed that 46% of the respondents expected their group business to continue to grow through the end of 2012.

ETC.

American Express Travel Finds U.S. Employees Have 8 Unused Vacation Days

U.S. employees have an average of eight unused vacation days this fall, according to American Express Travel’s American Express Spending and Saving Tracker. At the end of the year, 38 percent of workers will lose these unused vacation days while 74 percent are planning to use them over the fall months. Of those planning to use their vacation time this fall, 31 percent said they choose to travel during fall because it is the most affordable time of year, and 23 percent will travel to off-season destinations like the Caribbean and Hawaii, as they offer some great deals during this time, the study said.

Study shows aspiring travelers are online more than the average American

On a weekly basis, the Internet reaches 94% of intended travelers, in comparison to 85% of the general population reached. The comparable TV numbers are 97% vs. 89%. On weekdays, Internet weekly reach among intended travelers approaches parity with TV (91% Internet vs. 95% TV). Soon-to-be travelers are more likely to surf the Internet (91% vs. 82%), listen to radio (77% vs. 69%), and read magazines (61% vs. 51%) and newspapers (58% vs. 50%) than the general population.

Statue of Liberty interior to reopen Oct. 28

The interior of the Statue of Liberty will reopen to visitors on a limited basis on Oct. 28. The statue was closed for a one-year renovation on Oct. 29, 2011. The 125-year-old statue has been undergoing improvements for visitor safety, including upgrades to the fire-suppression system, two new means of exiting the monument, and a fire break between the statue and the pedestal, according to the National Park Service.

This Week in Travel & Tourism — 9/3/2012

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INTERNATIONAL

Dominican Republic visitation up 7% this year

Travelers arriving by air in the Dominican Republic grew to 2.9 million visitors from January through July, up 7.2% over the same period in 2011. The U.S. continues to be the top source market, according to data from the Central Bank, which compiles arrivals statistics for the destination. Other markets showing growth include Russia, Canada and Venezuela.

AIRLINE

United Airlines plans capacity cut through 2012. CFO says

United Airlines plans to trim capacity by up to 3% from September through the end of 2012. The carrier had previously forecast capacity cuts of up to 2% for the fourth quarter. “We are beginning to see some modest slowness in the economic outlook and we’re responding accordingly,” said CFO John Rainey.

CRUISE

Norwegian Cruise Line unveils hull art for the Breakaway

Norwegian Cruise Line’s newbuild to be homeported in New York will feature a hull painted with a New York skyline, the Statue of Liberty and a stylized solar system. Norwegian on Tuesday unveiled the design by pop artist Peter Max. It will decorate the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Breakaway, which is scheduled to arrive in New York next May for a summer of seven-day cruises to Bermuda.

Royal Caribbean launches product around Barbie doll

Royal Caribbean isn’t trading in its signature gold and blue colors, but its ships are going to be a lot more pink starting in January. That’s when something called the “Barbie Experience” will debut for young princesses ages 4 to 11. Girls can sleep in Barbie-themed cabins, design Barbie outfits, go to tea and participate in a fashion show at the end of the cruise. The experience will come in a basic free version and a premium one that will cost $349.

This Week in Travel & Tourism — 8/27/2012

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DOMESTIC

Tourism in Hawaii is on pace for record gains

Hawaii’s tourism officials forecast another banner year for the tourism economy as it announced that the number of visitors as well as per-visitor spending from the first half of the year were both on pace to beat 2011 levels. Visitor arrivals were up 9.8%, to 4.7 million, and expenditures rose 20.8%, to $8.4 billion.

AIRLINE

Spirit to add Los Cabos service

Spirit Airlines will launch nonstop daily service between San Diego and Los Cabos, Mexico, on Nov. 8. The flight will be supplemented by a daily connecting flight from Dallas/Fort Worth to San Diego, launching on the same date.
In addition, Spirit will begin nonstop service four times a week between Dallas/Fort Worth and Los Cabos in June 2013.

JetBlue widens markets for upgraded Go Pack offering

JetBlue Airways has reintroduced its Go Pack travel deal, which has been expanded to include 32 markets. The new package offers fliers 10 nonstop one-way flights for a fixed price, and the travel window has been extended to three months.

United will launch 787 Dreamliner service in November

United Airlines plans to inaugurate service aboard its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner on Nov. 4. The carrier will fly domestic routes on the Dreamliner for a month before launching international service on Dec. 4. United has ordered a total of 50 Boeing 787-8s.
http://www.ausbt.com.au/united-s-boeing-787-dreamliner-flies-from-november-4-on-domestic-usa-routes-international-flights-start-november

Hawaiian Airlines seeks to add route from Big Island to Tokyo

Hawaiian Airlines has applied to the Transportation Department for daily service to Haneda Airport in Tokyo from Hawaii’s Big Island. The airline has proposed a nonstop route between Kona International Airport and Haneda Airport that could begin by March.

CRUISE

Princess Cruises announces start of construction of new ship

Construction has begun on a new Princess Cruises ship, the Regal Princess, the cruise line has announced. Set to launch in spring 2014, the 3,600-passenger vessel will follow the debut of the Royal Princess in June 2013. Both are part of a new class of ships for the cruise line.

Disney Cruise Line, Texas port reach 2-year deal

Disney Cruise Line will be launching voyages aboard the Disney Magic from the Port of Galveston, Texas, for at least two years under a new agreement that includes a one-year renewal option. Disney says it has scheduled 38 cruises from Galveston during its first operating year.

This Week in Travel & Tourism — 8/20/2012

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INTERNATIONAL

Mexico City efforts include medical tourism, green programs

Mexico City is on the move with new initiatives and programs designed to garner specific market segments, capitalize on the destination’s myriad offerings and showcase its total product line. The city’s minister of tourism, Carlos Mackinlay, said that “tourism is a key economic generator of Mexico City,” representing 7% of its gross domestic product.

DOMESTIC

USTA will highlight importance of travel at political conventions

The U.S. Travel Association has announced its Vote Travel 2.0 plans for the upcoming Republican and Democratic national conventions. The multipronged initiative seeks to inform policymakers about the crucial economic role of travel and tourism. “We are pushing a message that will stay with attendees — that the travel industry generates $1.9 trillion in economic output and includes 14 million of U.S. jobs — and without it, the conventions wouldn’t be possible,” said Blain Rethmeier, U.S. Travel’s senior vice president for public affairs.

AIRLINE

Interjet applies to serve six U.S.-Mexico routes

Mexican carrier Interjet applied to the Department of Transportation for authorization to begin service on six U.S. routes. The routes are: Mexico City-Orange County, Calif.; Guadalajara-Orange County; San Jose del Cabo-Orange County; Toluca-Houston, Toluca-Chicago and Toluca-Las Vegas. Aeromexico and Volaris serve Las Vegas from Mexico City. Toluca is a secondary airport serving Mexico City.

JetBlue reportedly will boost flights to Colombia

JetBlue Airways is looking to increase its flights to Colombia, a newspaper based in Bogota, Colombia, reports. Portafolio also reported that JetBlue will add a route between Bogota and Puerto Rico in 2013. The carrier is also considering flights to Cali, Medellin and Barranquilla, the newspaper says.

Southwest explores flying outside continental U.S.

Southwest and Transport Workers Union’s Local 556 are waiting to see if flight attendants approve a measure that would allow the airline to fly routes to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and non-U.S. destinations. The union president says the deal would be a launching pad for the airline to plan for growth.

Window, aisle preferences could cost you

Airlines including US Airways, Spirit, American and Delta are imposing fees for window and aisle seats, two popular flier preferences. According to 2012 data from Expedia, 21% of customers chose window seats, while 20% preferred to sit along the aisle; the rest had no preference.

Airlines could continue to test demand with fare increases

A successful fare hike on trips shorter than 500 miles by Southwest Airlines could signal more airfare increases this year. “I think they are testing demand and they will continue to do it for the rest of the year,” said Rick Seaney, founder of the travel website Farecompare.com.

CRUISE

Agents are getting more online options for cruise training

More cruise lines are launching online cruise-training programs to improve agents’ skills in selling their products, this feature says. Training modules include destination education, brand orientation and sales and marketing training.

Cunard announces world itineraries for its 3 Queen cruise ships

Cunard Line has unveiled the 2014 world-cruise itineraries for its three Queen vessels — flagship Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. Queen Mary 2 is set to visit 19 countries around the world with overnight port destinations including Hong Kong, Dubai, and Cape Town, South Africa. Queen Elizabeth will visit Japan for the first time with port calls in Kobe, Kochi, Nagasaki and Yokohama. Queen Victoria will traverse the globe on a 116-day sailing that will visit 40 ports in 19 countries.

Carnival tries out drinks program about the Carnival Victory

Carnival Cruise Lines is holding a trial run of its “My Awesome Bar Program,” giving passengers access to a variety of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks for about $50 a day including tips. The package is available to passengers 21 and older aboard the Carnival Victory.

MGM

MGM Resorts proposes $800 million Massachusetts resort

MGM Resorts International has proposed building an $800 million entertainment-retail resort in Springfield, Mass., that would have 250 hotel rooms and 89,000 square feet of gaming space, as well as 200,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.

ETC.

Hotels take up growing juice trend

Juice bars and juicing-themed packages are popping up in hotels in response to the growing wellness trend, this feature says. “Hotels have taken notice that their travelers, especially those that spend time in the spa, are looking to keep their bodies healthy on the road. These clients are not interested in spending time and money detoxing in the spa only to fill up on unhealthy, processed food,” said Linden Schaffer, director of wellness-travel firm Pravassa.

Google ignites speculation with Frommer’s acquisition

Google’s announcement last week that it would purchase Frommer’s, the iconic publisher of print and electronic travel guides, touched off a wave of speculation over the search giant’s motives and what the move might portend for the travel industry.

This Week in Travel & Tourism — 8/6/2012

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DOMESTIC

Strong leisure business is driving hotel growth in Miami

Strong media attention and an influx of tourists from Latin America are driving up leisure-hotel demand in the Miami market, this feature says. Hoteliers and foreign investors have taken note of the growth and are looking to increase their presence in the market, experts say.

AIRLINE

Interjet starts New York-Mexico City service

Interjet launched daily service between New York JFK and Mexico City. Introductory roundtrip fares through Aug. 31 start at $349, including two checked bags up to 55 pounds each. New York is Interjet’s third U.S. gateway, following Miami and San Antonio.

AA launches baggage-delivery service

Beginning today, American Airlines customers can bypass the airport baggage claim and have their bags delivered to their home, office or hotel. AA has partnered with Bags VIP Luggage Delivery to launch the service, which is available in most major U.S cities, except Las Vegas. The service also is available in the Bahamas, Aruba, Dublin and five Canadian cities (Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver).

This month, WestJet is all about Disney

This month, WestJet is serving up snacks, cartoons, movies, and more — all with a Disney theme. The promotion coincides with deals for stays at Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Disney’s Aulani resort in Hawaii. Travelers who book vacations before the end of October through WestJet Vacations can get a price guarantee and a refund if the fee goes up 21 days before departure.

OTA

OTA stocks take hit due to gloomy forecasts

Gloomy projections about the next two quarters sent stocks of online travel agencies tumbling, even for those that reported positive quarterly results. Priceline, which Wednesday reported strong second-quarter numbers — revenue up a hefty 21% and net income soaring 37% — still saw its stock fall 17% after CEO Jeffery Boyd gave lower-than-expected projections for the third quarter because of the eurozone crisis.

CRUISE

Norwegian Cruise Line unveils restructuring of reservations team

Norwegian Cruise Line’s reservations team will undergo restructuring that will turn each member into a “universal reservation agent” capable of handling all types of calls, the company said during a webinar this week for travel agents. “As you call in, you don’t have to call in a group booking to one department and call in a FIT booking to another. We want to make it as efficient for you as possible,” said Crane Gladding, a Norwegian senior vice president.

LGBT

LGBT travelers get new gay-centric hotel-search website

World Rainbow Hotels has launched a website aimed at providing LGBT travelers a database of “genuine” gay- and lesbian-friendly hotels, this feature says. Searches can also be sorted according to consumers’ budgets. “Too often hoteliers claim their establishment is ‘gay-friendly’ but then fail to deliver on their promise. Gay and lesbian consumers want more than a rainbow flag in the window. They want to feel genuinely welcome as gay and lesbian individuals and they want to know that the hotel’s staff understands their travel concerns,” said Nicolas Wijnants, brand director at World Rainbow Hotels.

ETC.

Investment in California parks paying off, says Disney CEO

After having pumped more than $1 billion into the Disneyland Resort’s Disney California Adventure, Disney appears confident that its plan to reinvigorate the theme park has worked. Since the June opening of Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, attendance has been up, along with guest satisfaction, said Disney CEO Bob Iger during the company’s third-quarter conference call. He said Disneyland Resort set an attendance record for the third quarter.

This Week in Travel & Tourism — 7/16/2012

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INTERNATIONAL

Latin America proves lucrative for U.S. airlines

For most U.S. carriers, flights to Latin America have proved profitable, financial data filed with the Department of Transportation show. During the first quarter, flights to Latin America returned a 5% operating margin, compared with a 4% operating margin for domestic flights.

International visitor spending in U.S. in May up 8%

International visitors to the U.S. in May spent $13.9 billion on tourism and travel-related activities, up 8% from a year earlier, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported Friday. For the first five months of 2012, international tourism spending is up 12% and has created an $18.4 billion trade surplus for the U.S.

Spas very important for Chinese travelers, says Hilton

Chinese tourists are more than twice as likely to factor in whether a hotel has an on-site spa in their booking decisions than Americans, Hilton Hotels & Resorts said in a report released Tuesday.

DOMESTIC

Average jet-fuel costs in May were the same as a year ago, DOT says

The average fuel cost for U.S. airlines was $3.03 a gallon in May, the same price as a year ago, but down 3.2% compared to April prices, the Department of Transportation says. The total fuel consumption on scheduled flights in May was 1.37 billion gallons.

AIRLINE

Customer service is at heart of American Airlines’ Twitter strategy

Dealing with American Airlines via Twitter can be downright enjoyable, Darren Booth writes. The company uses the microblogging site to disseminate information and answer customers’ questions, and it does so with a refreshingly “sincere and human approach,” he writes. Jonathan Pierce, the airline’s director of social media communications, says “our team is empowered by relating to customers, finding connections and being authentic in every response. We make sure there’s a face and voice behind each post.”

United plans 10 new routes

United Airlines announced plans to launch year-round and seasonal service to several new international and domestic routes. International routes are subject to government approval. New routes include daily, year-round service between its San Francisco hub and Taiwan, beginning April 9; daily, year-round service between San Francisco and Paris, beginning April 11; three daily flights between Denver and Williston, N.D., beginning Nov. 4; and daily service between Washington Dulles and San Salvador, El Salvador, beginning Dec. 19.

Hawaiian Airlines will add nonstop flights to New Zealand

Hawaiian Airlines has announced that it will add three nonstop flights per week between between Honolulu and Auckland, starting in March. The move will make the airline the only U.S. carrier flying to the New Zealand city. It believes that New Zealand is an untapped market, noting that the number of visitors to Hawaii from New Zealand has dropped 30% since 1999, when more nonstop flights were offered from Auckland, this feature says.

CRUISE

Carnival’s stricter sales policy draws more praise than criticism

When it goes into effect Aug. 1, Carnival Cruise Lines’ ban on using cash-equivalent value-adds as booking incentives will be among the tightest such policies in the industry. Even so, agents greeted the policy change with more praise than criticism after it was announced in early July.

ETC.

Baby boomers lead rise in multigenerational travel

Complex multigenerational vacations are on the rise, influenced by a growing number of retiring baby boomers with dreams of making memories and plenty of money to make it a reality, this feature says. Popular family tourist activities around the world include tracing the route of explorers Lewis and Clark in Montana, a culture-laden cruise along Alaska’s Inside Passage and a safari across the Tanzanian Serengeti.

Hertz adds Porsche to Prestige lineup

Hertz added Porsche Panamera sport sedans to the lineup of high-end cars in the Hertz Prestige Collection at select locations in California, Nevada and Florida, saying it’s the first major U.S. rental brand to offer Porsches. Hertz also will become a sponsor of a Porsche racing team. Panamera prices start at about $75,000. http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Car-Rental-News/Hertz-adds-Porsche-to-Prestige-lineup/?a=usa&cid=eltrvegas

This Week in Travel & Tourism — 7/2/2012

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INTERNATIONAL

Los Cabos launches marketing campaign

The Los Cabos Convention & Visitors Bureau launched a new marketing campaign targeting North American travelers. Highlighted by a series of print and digital ads, the campaign promotes activities and vacation offerings for visitors.

DOMESTIC

Tourism volume, spending in Hawaii set record growth in May

Hawaii experienced record gains in visitation and tourist spending in May, welcoming 622,899 visitors and gaining $1.1 billion in tourism revenue, the Hawaii Tourism Authority says. Tourists from the East and West coasts as well as from Canada and Japan contributed the most to the growth.

Airlines increase capacity to Hawaii by 12.6% in Q3

Airlines will offer almost 2.7 million seats on nonstop flights to Hawaii this quarter, the Hawaii Tourism Authority says. The airlines are increasing capacity by 12.6% for the third quarter, compared to the same quarter of last year. Alaska, Allegiant, Hawaiian and United airlines recently added flights to Hawaii.

AIRLINE

Delta and United reduce capacity amid demand concerns

Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in the past week alone reduced on a combined basis “about 1% of their seats” for the second half of the year, according to Rodman & Renshaw analyst Dan McKenzie, who cited “the darkening economic outlook” as the trigger for the cuts in capacity.

Families finding it tougher to sit together in-flight

If you want to sit next to family or friends the next time you fly, better not leave it up to chance at the airport.With some airlines no longer allowing families with young children to pre-board, and others putting a premium price on more of their seats in economy, it’s getting harder to score seats together without paying extra.

CRUISE

Children can sail free on select Norwegian Cruise Line voyages

Norwegian Cruise Line has launched a limited-time special offer allowing children 17 and younger to be booked for free. The deal encompasses select sailings from three to 20 nights, with destinations that include Alaska, the Panama Canal and the Mediterranean.

Upcoming Norwegian Breakway will feature “Rock of Ages” musical

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that the hit Broadway musical “Rock of Ages” will be performed on its upcoming ship, the Norwegian Breakaway, alongside another Broadway show, “Burn the Floor.” The Breakaway, which is scheduled to debut May 2013, will also feature a circus show, “Cirque Dreams & Dinner — Jungle Fantasy in the Spiegel Tent,” as well as performances by comedy group Second City and a “Howl at the Moon” dueling piano show.

ETC.

Olympics can spell boom or bust for hotels in host cities

The Olympic Games undoubtedly represent a significant boost for the tourism and hotel industry of the host city, even helping to establish the presence of former host cities such as Salt Lake City and Beijing on the global travel market, this feature says. However, some cases also serve as a warning for future host cities, including that of Turin, Italy, which faces oversupply in the face of muted tourism demand, and of Athens, Greece, which experienced a business decline when the country’s economy slumped.

This Week in Travel & Tourism — 6/18/2012

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INTERNATIONAL

U.S. hotels see dwindling European bookings this year

European tourists to the U.S. are declining as Europe’s difficulties intensify, with the U.S. hotel industry feeling the effect. Travelers from European countries booked 1.1% fewer rooms in the U.S. in the first five months of the year compared with the same period in 2011, Pegasus Solutions reports. In the first five months of 2011, hotel bookings by Europeans increased 13.7% compared with year-earlier figures, the reservation processor says.

Report: U.S. tourism industry will bounce back by 2017

Research firm IBISWorld predicts that the U.S. tourism industry will enjoy moderate revenue growth over the next five years, brought about by an increase in travel from East Asia and South America. IBISWorld says in the report that it expects the industry’s revenue to grow to $1.4 trillion from 2011 to 2012.

DOMESTIC

Brand USA chief departs

Brand USA, the public-private partnership formed to promote international travel to the U.S., said Thursday that CEO Jim Evans stepped down after one year on the job.

Number of July Fourth weekend travelers will reach 42.3 million, AAA says

Lower gas prices and July Fourth falling on a Wednesday will contribute to a record rise in travel volume during this year’s Independence Day weekend, which is projected to reach 42.3 million, AAA reports. “This is the second holiday this year where travelers indicated a determination to travel while economizing by actively seeking value-added travel options and activities,” said Bill Sutherland of AAA Travel Services.

CRUISE

Luxury cruise lines crack down on agents who rebate onboard

Crystal Cruises last week became the latest luxury line to shore up its anti-rebating efforts, with a new policy aimed at reducing onboard solicitation of cruise clients and discouraging passengers from shopping their future bookings while onboard.

LGBT

Guerneville, Calif., offers haven for LGBT community, nature lovers

Several hiking trails and the wide expanse of the Russian River in Guerneville, Calif., offer plenty of adventures and natural sights for visitors. The laid-back town also touts its status as “a hate-free community,” offering a warm welcome to families and gay couples alike, this feature says.

ETC.

Hoteliers are tweaking amenities to cater to Chinese travelers

The massive influx of Chinese leisure travelers into the U.S. has prompted many hotels to align their amenities toward meeting these visitors’ cultural preferences, this feature says. From serving authentic Chinese cuisine to employing Mandarin-speaking front-desk staff, hotels continue to adapt their operations in a bid to capture the growing demand.

Senator introduces bill of rights for airline passengers

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has introduced a bill of rights for air travelers, as well as a bill that would require private workers to replace the Transportation Security Administration. “While aviation security is undoubtedly important, we must be diligent in protecting the rights of all Americans, such as their freedom from being subjected to humiliating and intrusive searches by TSA agents, especially when there is no obvious cause,” said Paul in a statement.