Other Airline News
Virgin America and Hawaiian Airlines flights are the latest carriers to receive approval for their passengers to use personal electronic devices from "gate to gate" throughout the entire flight. JetBlue, American Airlines, American Eagle, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, US Airways and Alaska Airlines had previously received such approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.
Gogo, which provides in-flight Wi-Fi Internet access on carriers including Delta Air Lines, United, US Airways, American Airlines, Virgin America and Alaska Airlines, is offering reduced-priced holiday bundles for Internet use between December 14 and December 31.
American Airlines is testing allowing customers to bid on upgrades to first class or business class. Initially available only on a few flights, Plusgrade invites fliers to make an offer on its website, beginning six days before a flight's departure, by inputting credit card information and an upgrade price. If American likes the offered price and accepts the bid, it charges the card and notifies the flier via email. The upgrade includes priority check-in, boarding and baggage handling. The airline will continue to prioritize upgrades for its elite statue frequent fliers, only accepting upgrade bids after it has accommodated 500-mile upgrade requests from members.
Aeromexico began offering post-purchase upgrade and preferred seat purchasing through website optiontown.com. Ticketholders pay a small sign-up fee to register with Optiontown, and then offer a price they are willing to pay to either upgrade to Aeromexico's Clase Premier (including first class cabin seating, priority check-in, boarding and disembarking) or to select preferred seats in the AMPlus section of the economy cabin (the first three rows of seating, with greater recline and priority boarding and check-in). The traveler's card is charged for the offer price (called an option) at that time. Between four days and 96 hours prior to departure, Optiontown then notifies the passenger whether the upgrade or selection has been granted. If the option is not granted, it refunds the purchase price to the credit card.
Airport News
Odebrecht SA and Singapore Changi won the bidding to operate Rio de Janeiro's Galeão-Antônio Carlos Jobim international airport for 25 years, with a bid of US$8.3 billion. The group is expected to sign a contract with the Brazilian government in March. It plans to immediately begin expanding the airport with an additional 26 airbridges and parking lots by April 2016. It also plans additional cargo storage facilities.
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Dallas/ Fort Worth International Airport
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Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Texas, U.S.) is offering free wrapping and shipping of items purchased at the airport through December 24. Stores set their own minimum item value required for free shipping.
In Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, the Aerobrasil group won the right to operate Confins-Tancredo Neves international airport for 30 years. The group, which includes the operators of European airports in Munich and Zurich, plans to build a new terminal and runway at the airport.
Loyalty Programs News
Hyatt plans several changes in its Gold Passport loyalty program, beginning January 7. It will begin allowing members to combine cash and points to book hotel room nights, and will give points credit for the cash portion of such bookings, although they can only be booked by phone. The company will also allow members to keep points for up to 24 months with no account activity (up from 12). Platinum and Diamond members will receive a 20% discount on standard room rates throughout 2014. Hyatt also increased the number of points required to redeem a free room night, added a new category of rooms and changed the way upgrades can be obtained with points.
Hotel News
Marriott expanded mobile check-in to include some hotels in Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America. Marriott Rewards members can use the company's mobile phone app to check-in at a hotel as early as 4:00 p.m. the day before arrival. The hotel sends a notification when the room is ready, and the guest picks up a waiting key card at the mobile check-in desk.
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| Porto Velho, Brazil |
The Holiday Inn Express Porto Velho opened in Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil. The newly built 174-room property, which is less than two miles from the airport, has free in-room Wi-Fi, a business center, a fitness center, complimentary breakfast and three meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 50 people.
The 196-room Holiday Inn Express Panama Distrito Financiero opened in Panama City's financial district. Located not far from the Costa del Este Business Park, the hotel includes more than 2,500 square feet of meeting space, a business center, outdoor swimming pool and fitness center. It offers guests a complimentary breakfast bar. Owned by Grupo AGRISAL, the property is within walking distance of the Punta Pacifica Hospital, which is affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International.
The Holiday Inn Orizaba opened in Veracruz, Mexico. Converted from a previous hotel, its 103 rooms include ergonomic workstations and free Wi-Fi. The hotel has three meeting/event spaces, which can accommodate up to 180 people. It also offers a floor reserved for Platinum Elite InterContinental Hotels Group Rewards Club members, a business center, a fitness center and an indoor pool.
The 103-suite condominium resort Grand Residences Riviera Cancun will open in Puerto Morcelos, Mexico on December 7.
ClubHotel Riu Jalisco in Riviera Nayarit-Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico re-opened after a US$15 million renovation. The all-inclusive resort has an extended lobby, new eating options and refurbished rooms, as well as additional parking spaces, courtesy post-checkout rooms, free lobby Wi-Fi and optional in-room Wi-Fi.
The all-inclusive, 350-room, Hola Grand Fero in Los Cabos, Mexico joined Barcelo Hotels & Resorts. Owner Grupo Hospitalidad Latina plans a US$1.1 million renovation.
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The Ritz-Carlton Aruba
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The 320-room Ritz-Carlton Aruba opened on Palm Beach. The resort includes a 7,500-square-foot ballroom that can be divided into three separate salons, a 600-square-foot executive boardroom and two meeting rooms. It also has a Club Level lounge on the top floor, a casino, spa and two pools, as well as a full-service business center.
The year-old Eden Roc Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic joined the Relais & Chateaux collection. It is the first property in that nation to join Relais & Chateaux.
The all-inclusive Royalton White Sands opened in Montego Bay, Jamaica. A member of the Express Luxury Collection, the resort has five restaurants and six bars, as well as free Wi-Fi throughout the property.
Karisma Hotels & Resorts will introduce its rebranded property in Negril, Jamaica as the Azul Sensatori Jamaica on December 21. The former Beaches Sandy Bay will be the first Azul property outside of Mexico.
TAME Airlines by Aero Icarus; Stockholm, Sweden by Jerrick Parrone; Dallas/ Fort Worth International Airport by Ines Hegedus-Garcia; Porto Velho, Brazil by Jorge in Brazil; The Ritz-Carlton Aruba, courtesy The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company
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