Hilton offers winter bonus points

December 20, 2017

Hilton’s DoubleTree in Hilo, Hawaii. (Image: Hilton)

A day after Marriott/Starwood came out with a winter bonus points plan, Hilton has unveiled its own bonus earning program for Honors members.

Called Points Unlimited, the Hilton promotion applies for stays from January 1 through April 30. Honors members can register here to participate.

For every stay during the promotion period, registered Honors members will get 2,000 bonus points. Those who complete five stays during the period will earn an additional 10,000 bonus points, or a total of 20,000.

Members who travel a lot can keep racking up the extra points for additional stays during the January-April period. There’s no cap on the number of points that can be earned, no minimum stay requirement, and no weekday/weekend differential.

The bonus offer applies for stays at all Hilton brands and locations except Hampton by Hilton Hotels in mainland China – a total of more than 5,000 participating hotels worldwide. Reservations already booked for stays during the promotion period also qualify, as long as the member is registered for Points Unlimited.

Hilton has published a page of frequently asked questions about the promotion on the Honors website.

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Hotel ‘resort fees’ are moving into the Big Apple

December 4, 2017

Many hotels near NYC’s Times Square now tack “destination fees” onto guests’ bills. (Image: Jim Glab)

Business travelers heading to New York may no longer be immune from a daily add-on to their hotel bill that used to be limited to leisure destinations like Hawaii and Las Vegas. And hotels in other big cities might not be far behind.

At the leisure destinations, the hotels call these contentious charges ”resort fees,” supposedly covering the hotels’ costs of providing things like pool towel service, fitness center use, phone calls, daily newspaper and so on – and the fees are mandatory whether the guest actually uses any of the covered services or not.

Probably the most notorious destination for charging exorbitant hotel ”resort fees” is Las Vegas, where big hotels routinely tack more than $30 a day onto guests’ final bills. And they are not included in the quoted room price during web searches.

Now, according to a report in the U.K. newspaper The Independent, resort fees are coming to many hotels in New York City under another name – the Urban Destination Charge.

The newspaper found that a number of hotels in Manhattan – especially those in the Times Square area – have started tacking a mandatory “destination fee” or “facility fee” onto guests’ bills, with the amount ranging from $15 to $25 a day. The fees are being charged by properties belonging to major chains like Marriott/Starwood and Hilton.

A Marriott spokesperson told the newspaper the fees were imposed at some of its properties as a four-month test program, and estimated that about 40 New York hotels are now charging them.

Las Vegas hotels are notorious for the size of their resort fees. (Image: Jim Glab)

Like the resort fees, the new charges are supposedly covering hotel services like Internet, fitness rooms, newspaper and so on, whether or not the guest uses them. They may also include a one-time food and beverage credit (even though the charge is imposed for every day of the guest’s stay), or discount vouchers to use for city tours, etc.

Hotel resort fees have been drawing scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission for years, but so far the agency hasn’t done anything to rein them in except to warn hotels back in 2012 that they ought to be more transparent in disclosing such fees to customers.

In 2015, the FTC rejected a request from a consumers’ group that hotels should be required to incorporate resort fees into their regular room rates. Earlier this year, the FTC’s Bureau of Economics issued a report on hotel resort fees that concluded they can harm consumers by making their room searches and price comparisons more difficult. That report was issued in the final days of the Obama Administration during early January. With the changeover to Republican rule in Washington, it is considered unlikely that the FTC would come out with any new regulations restricting hotels’ freedom to assess resort and/or destination fees.

So don’t be surprised if more hotels in other urban centers take note of the New York experience and decide to tack on some new fees of their own.

Readers: Have you encountered any unexpected mandatory hotel fees recently? Where, how much, and what were they for?

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New hotels: Hilton, IHG in NYC, Hilton/Marriott in Dallas, Charlotte Kimpton, Las Vegas suites, Cincinnati

November 16, 2017

A room at the Crowne Plaza HY36 in Manhattan. (Image: Crowne Plaza)

In recent hotel news, InterContinental and Hilton both opened new locations in midtown Manhattan near Hudson Yards; Hilton added a new affiliated property in downtown Dallas, and Marriott opened a dual-branded hotel there; Kimpton Hotels broke into the Charlotte market; Caesars Palace in Las Vegas has added luxurious ‘villas’ as part of a $100 million renovation project; and Marriott brought its AC brand to Cincinnati.

On the west side of Midtown Manhattan, InterContinental Hotels Group has cut the ribbon on its newest Crowne Plaza property, called the Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan. It’s at 320 West 36^th Street, a few blocks from Penn Station, Hudson Yards and the Javits Center. The 251-room hotel has a restaurant called TGA (The Great American) serving American cuisine, a big fitness center, and a 24-hour business lounge. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi throughout. Rates start as low as $193 (after the holidays).

Hilton’s new Garden Inn on the west side of Midtown Manhattan. (Image: Hilton)

Just around the block at 326 West 37^th Street is the newly opened Hilton Garden Inn New York Times Square South, a 23-story, 250-room property. Free Wi-Fi is also available throughout this hotel, and amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, sundries store, room service, and a full-service restaurant called Doyler’s, serving up pub-style food and drinks for three meals a day. There’s also a media room with gaming stations and big TVs. Weeknight rates start as low as $165.

The Statler in Dallas is back as part of Hilton’s Curio Collection. (Image: Hiulton)

Back when it opened in downtown Dallas in 1956, The Statler was one of Hilton’s first big convention hotels. Now the hotel at 1914 Commerce Street has been redeveloped into a mixed-use project that includes 159 hotel rooms, 219 residences, restaurants, nightlife, specialty retail stores and an events venue. The hotel segment is still called The Statler, and now it’s a member of Hilton’s Curio Collection, which makes it part of the Honors program. The complex has five food and beverage outlets, 33,000 square feet of meeting space, a rooftop pool and lounge (opening in December), a fitness center and a bowling alley. Rates start at $264.

Miss our New Hotels post from last month? Check this out!

Public area at the new AC Hotel in Dallas. (Image: Marriott)

Not far from the Statler at 1712 Commerce Street in Dallas, the old Mercantile Commerce Building – which had been empty for a quarter-century – has been redeveloped into a dual-branded Marriott property that includes a Residence Inn and an AC Hotel. Together they have 249 rooms, along with a shared bar, fitness center and indoor pool, but separate lobbies, dining areas and business centers.

Lobby in the new Residence Inn in downtown Dallas. (Image: Marriott)

The AC Hotel Dallas Downtown features the simplicity of design and functionality that comes from its European namesake; the lobby has communal tables and plenty of power ports, while food and beverage outlets include an AC Lounge for drinks, the AC Kitchen for breakfast, and the AC Market for snacks and more. The Residence Inn Dallas Downtown offers studio and one-bedroom accommodations with full kitchens. It has a 24-hour self-service food and beverage outlet called The Market, and offers free grocery delivery and hot breakfasts. Rates begin at $195 for the AC Hotel and $184 at the Residence Inn.

Rooftop restaurant at the Kimpton Tryon Park in Charlotte. (Image: Kimpton)

InterContinental Hotel Group’s Kimpton brand has opened its first hotel in Charlotte – the Kimpton Tryon Park in the city’s Uptown district. Connected to the new 300 South Tryon office complex next door, the 217-room Kimpton has a rooftop lounge/restaurant called Merchant & Trade (featuring a retracting sunroof) and an Italian eatery named Angeline’s on the ground floor. Guests have access to a 24-hour fitness center, outdoor yoga classes and high-speed Wi-Fi. Advance purchase rates start at $194.

Marriott’s new AC Hotel in Cincinnati. (Image: Marriott)

Just across from Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark, in The Banks mixed-use development, is Marriott’s newly opened AC Hotel Cincinnati at The Banks, at 135 Joe Nuxhall Way. It has 131 European-style rooms, free Wi-Fi and a fitness center, along with three meeting rooms, an AC Kitchen for breakfast service, a bar called the AC Lounge, and a library and lounge area off the lobby. There’s also a rooftop bar/event venue called The AC Upper Deck with sweeping views of the city. Rates start at $175 for Marriott Rewards members.

A posh new villa suite at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (Image: Caesars Palace)

In Las Vegas, the 1,181-room Palace Tower at the legendary Caesars Palace has just finished up a $100 million renovation. The centerpiece of the project was the addition of 10 new “villas” on the 29^th floor – lavish accommodations ranging in size from 2,750 to 4,085 square feet. The villas provide amenities you won’t normally find in a hotel, like giant-screen $20,000 TVs with surround sound; 24-karat gold-plated plumbing fixtures; whirlpool tubs; full pantries with appliances; hardwood floors; and curated art. Villa guests have private elevator access, butler service around the clock, and airport transfers via limousine. But the villas carry a considerable price tag (unless you’re a really high roller), with rates starting at $3,109 a night. The new villa suites have their own website at www.caesarssuites.com.

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New Hilton – American Express card: big perks for big spenders

November 4, 2017

American Express and Hilton have a new lineup of Honors cards for 2018. (Image: Hilton/AmEx)

As part of an overhaul of credit card products for Honors loyalty members, American Express and Hilton are introducing a high-end Aspire Card next year that pays point bonuses as high as 14 times the number of dollars spent.

The new Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card – which will be available starting in January, along with the other card versions – costs a hefty $450 a year. But it will return bonus Honors points worth 14 times the amount of dollars spent at hotels in the Hilton family of brands, and seven times the amount spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with amextravel.com, on car rentals booked from “select car rental companies,” and at U.S. restaurants. All other purchases get a triple points bonus.

The new card carries plenty of other benefits, too: Diamond status in Honors; a free weekend night for signing up, and for each year of card membership; a second weekend night after you spend $60,000 in a calendar year; unlimited entry to Priority Pass airport lounges; a $250 credit for airline fees, and another $250 credit for Hilton resort spending. AmEx said the new card is targeting “frequent travelers seeking premium experiences and elevated experiences.”

The new Aspire card pays 14X Honors points for spending at Hilton properties like this one at Chicago O’Hare. (Image: Hilton)

Too rich for your wallet? The new card lineup also includes a Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card for a $95 annual fee. That provides a 12X Honors point bonus for spending at Hilton properties, 6X bonus points for spending at U.S. grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations, and 3X for other purchases, along with Honors Gold status, a free weekend night after spending $15,000 in a year, and 10 Priority Pass lounge passes.

For “the occasional traveler,” the no-annual-fee, basic Hilton Honors American Express Card has eliminated foreign transaction fees, and offers Honors point bonuses of 7X for spending at Hilton properties, 5X for purchases at restaurants, gas stations and grocery stores in the U.S., and 3X for other purchases. It also provides Honors Silver status.

Designed for small business owners, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card includes access to the AmEx OPEN platform for small businesses, and returns 12X bonus points for Hilton-related purchases, and 6X bonus points for spending on mobile phone services, U.S. shipping services, and purchases at U.S. gas stations and restaurants as well as flight and car rental bookings. Cardholders get Honors Gold status, 10 Priority Pass lounge passes, and more. That card costs $95 a year.

You can see full details of the new AmEx/Hilton card lineup here. Hilton announced earlier this year it was ending its Honors card relationship with Citi and making American Express its exclusive co-branded card provider.

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New Hotels: Hilton LAX, Nikko SF, Mondrian NYC, Marriott Denver, Ritz Chicago, Hilton DC

October 16, 2017

Hilton’s dual-branded H Hotel/Homewood Suites near LAX. (Image: Hilton)

In hotel news, Hilton cuts the ribbon on a dual-branded project near Los Angeles International Airport; Manhattan welcomes a pair of new properties; Marriott opens a Meridien/AC Hotel combo in downtown Denver, and Hilton gains a new presence there as well; an iconic hotel in the nation’s capital joins the Hilton family; and a Chicago classic reopens.

Less than a mile from LAX at 6151 West Century Boulevard in Los Angeles is a newly-opened, dual-branded Hilton affiliate. Its two parts are the 122-unit Homewood Suites by Hilton Los Angeles International Airport, and the 168-room H Hotel Los Angeles, Curio Collection by Hilton. The double hotel offers 24-hour shuttles to the terminals and car rentals from MCar Rental. The Homewood Suites has studio and one-bedroom accommodations with full kitchens and separate living/sleeping areas. The H Hotel provides “high-end accommodations that currently do not exist at LAX,” Hilton said. Its rooms feature Nespresso machines and Google Chromecast on their TVs. Breakfast and dinner service is available to guests of both properties at Waypoint Kitchen in the H Hotel – “an American-style pub with modern California cuisine.” There’s also a coffee shop and a Subway Fresh in the lobby. Each hotel has its own fitness center, but they share a pool. The H Hotel has an open-air rooftop deck called H Overlook with views of the LAX runways, and guest-requested amenities and snacks are delivered to their rooms by a robotic butler. Rates begin at $160 for the Homewood Suites, and at $170 at the H Hotel.

All rooms in the Hotel Nikko San Francisco have been remodeled (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Did you know that the Hotel Nikko San Francisco closed down for three months for a top to bottom re-do earlier this year? It reopened this past spring and, based on our recent visit, feels like a brand new hotel. TravelSkills was there last week as the hotel celebrated its 30th anniversary in the spectacular white-marble-sheathed lobby– part of the $60 million renovation that included all public spaces and rooms (seen above.) Even if you are not staying there, it’s worth a walk through or a meal or drink next time you are in SF near Union Square. Rates start at as low as $180 per night but of course vary based on demand. Check out this video walk through.

In New York City’s NoMad neighborhood, at Park Avenue South and 30^th Street, a former 15-story office building constructed in 1915 has added five floors during its conversion into the 20-story Mondrian Park Avenue Hotel. The newly opened Mondrian has guestrooms with “plush bedding and spacious bathrooms, as well as neutral woven leather furnishings and floating desks,” the hotel said. Managed by Journal Hotels, the Mondrian has a signature restaurant called Cleo with Eastern and Southern Mediterranean-inspired cuisine; a rooftop lounge and outdoor terrace called Fifteen Stories; and an underground nightclub called Yours Truly “catering to the who’s who of New York City with a dedicated hidden entrance.” Rates start around $350.

Innovative guest accommodations at the Moxy Times Square. (Image: Marriott)

Across town at Seventh Avenue and 36^th Street, meanwhile, the 110-year-old New Mills Hotel building has been overhauled and converted into Marriott’s new Moxy Times Square. (How far does a hotel have to be from Times Square before it’s not allowed to have Times Square in its name?) It has 612 guestrooms ranging from 150 to 350 square feet, each with fast, free Wi-Fi; Bluetooth soundbars, and big HDTVs that can stream Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube. The hotel has a seafood restaurant, an “egg-centric all-day breakfast spot,” a big rooftop bar/lounge that Marriott says is New York’s largest, a lobby bar, and a grab-and-go market, as well as a newsstand/convenience store called New Stand. Marriott Rewards member rates start as low as $148 (after the holidays).

Marriott’s Le Meridien/AC Hotel is close to Denver’s convention center. (Image: Marriott)

Dual-branded hotels are getting ever more popular. Besides the Hilton project at LAX mentioned above, Marriott has just opened its own double hotel in downtown Denver, a block from the Colorado Convention Center at 15^th and California. The 20-story structure includes the upscale 272-room Le Meridien Denver Downtown and the 223-room AC Hotel by Marriott Denver Downtown. Le Meridien has 12,000 square feet of meeting space, lots of original artwork, and coffee and cocktail service in the lobby. The European-inspired AC Hotel “is designed to feel like a modern ski lodge, with peaked roofs, strong lines, geometric language, and bold interior gestures,” Marriott said. Guests of the hotels can get American comfort food at Corinne, open for three meals a day; imbibe at The Lobbyist, Le Meridien’s cocktail lounge; and check out the mountains from 54thirty, Denver’s “highest open-air, seasonal rooftop bar.” Rates start at $162 at the AC Hotel and $229 at Le Meridien.

Given Marriott’s big new double-hotel presence in downtown Denver with Le Meridien and the AC Hotel, it may no longer need the 613-room Denver Marriott City Center, two blocks away at 17^th and California – and that’s good, because the owner of that hotel, Chesapeake Lodging Trust, plans to change its affiliation on December 1, when it will become the Hilton Denver City Center, according to the Denver Post.

A corner room at the Madison Hotel in Washington, (Image: Hilton)

Long a landmark in downtown Washington D.C. not far from the White House, the Madison Hotel has ended its affiliation with Loews Hotels and has been rebranded as The Madison Washington DC, a Hilton Hotel, making it part of Hilton’s Honors program. That makes it Hilton’s third major property in the nation’s capital along with the Capital Hilton and the Washington Hilton. The 356-room Madison has 27 suites, eight meeting rooms, a 24-hour business center, restaurant and bar and a fitness center. Rates start at $131.

Part of the renovated lobby at Chicago’s Ritz-Carlton. (Image: Ritz-Carlton)

After a $100 million renovation job that kept the property closed for a year and a half, The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago has finally reopened. The big renovation of the property started just after it became an official member of the Ritz-Carlton group; before that, it was a Four Seasons hotel – even though it carried the Ritz-Carlton name. The work included the creation of a 15th-floor Ritz-Carlton Club lounge, an expansion of the hotel’s spa, and the addition of an Italian steakhouse restaurant. The hotel, located along North Michigan Avenue – the “Magnificent Mile” – is known for its spacious guest accommodations, which start at 300 square feet. Advance purchase rates start at $275.

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Hotel news: Ritz in Atlanta, Marriott in Chicago, Hilton in NYC + Los Angeles, Austin

September 14, 2017

A luxurious suite overlooking Phipps Plaza at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead in Atlanta. (Image: Ritz-Carlton)

In recent hotel news, a classic Atlanta property gets rebranded; Marriott cuts the ribbon on a big convention hotel in Chicago, and Viceroy Hotels adds a property there; a trendy independent property makes its debut in LA’s West Hollywood district; Hilton adds a major location in Manhattan, near the United Nations; and Marriott/Starwood adds a dual-branded hotel in Austin.

Atlanta’s Ritz-Carlton Buckhead, across the street from Lenox Square in Atlanta, has been a fixture of the city’s upscale Buckhead district for 30 years. It was even the brand flagship when the company had its HQ in Atlanta. But it will be rebranded within a matter of weeks. The hotel’s owner, Host Hotels & Resorts, has reached an agreement with Ritz-Carlton parent Marriott to take the property out of the Ritz-Carlton group and convert it into a property “under independent operation” called The Whitley. But it will still be part of the huge multi-brand Marriott family: The deal calls for The Whitley to be a part of Marriott/Starwood’s Luxury Collection when it changes its name December 1. Existing reservations will be honored, as will Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Marriott Rewards redemption nights, the companies said. Have you stayed at the R-C Buckhead lately? How was it?

The new Marriott Marquis near Chicago’s McCormick Place. (Image: Marriott)

The largest hotel to open in Chicago so far this year is the brand-new Marriott Marquis, located next to (and connected to) the huge McCormick Place convention center. The 1,204-room, 40-story Marriott Marquis Chicago is the city’s sixth-largest hotel; in addition to its modern glass-walled tower, the hotel also includes the historic red-brick American Book Company building next door. True to its convention-oriented location, the hotel boasts 93,000 square feet of meeting space, including a pair of 25,000-square-foot ballrooms. The hotel’s Woven & Bound Restaurant is an American brasserie open for three meals a day. Guest amenities include an M Club Lounge with workspace, snacks and drinks, open to Marriott Rewards members (or non-member guests for a fee); a 24-hour fitness center; a big grab-and-go market; business center and FedEx office; and fiber optic high-speed Internet. Rates start around $299, but can vary considerably based on the level of convention activity.

A room at The Viceroy in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. (Image: Viceroy Hotels)

Farther north, in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, Viceroy Hotel Group has opened the 180-room Viceroy Chicago, a luxury property on the site of the former Cedar Hotel. It’s at the corner of Cedar and State streets, just south of Division Street. The 18-story Viceroy has a rooftop pool and year-round rooftop lounge, and an adjacent restaurant called Somerset run by chef Lee Wolen, a James Beard Award finalist. Guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, and the hotel will offer guests weekly classes in meditation and yoga starting in October. Opening rates start at $281 for bookings made by September 30.

The outdoor pool at The Jeremy in West Hollywood. (Image: The Jeremy)

At the corner of Sunset and La Cienega boulevards in Los Angeles is The Jeremy West Hollywood, a newly opened 286-room (including 50 suites) property. Its owners say the hotel has “an iconic cool presence that cultivates the best of WeHo’s notable culture.” The hotel’s all-day Etcho Café offers up “Cali-fresh cuisine” that is locally sourced and its JOAO Bar features “elements of old Hollywood.” The Jeremy also has a pool, fitness center, and a pair of large conference rooms. Rates start at $269.

A corner room at the Millennium Hilton at UN Plaza in New York. (Image: Hilton)

Members of Hilton’s Honors program have a new lodging option in New York City. A hotel at One United Nations Plaza on the east side of Midtown Manhattan (across from the UN Headquarters) has become a member of the Hilton family. The 439-room hotel opened as a Hyatt in 1976, then became the Millennium UN Plaza after it was acquired by Millennium & Copthorne Hotels in 2000. A few years ago, it was renamed the One UN New York, and now it is under Hilton Hotels management, and has been renamed the Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza. It’s the seventh Hilton Hotels property in New York. Rates start at $290.

The new Aloft/Element dual-branded hotel in Austin. (Image: Marriott/Starwood)

In downtown Austin, Texas, it’s one building but two new hotels. Marriott’s Starwood Hotels division has cut the ribbon on a dual-branded property that includes both an Aloft and an Element hotel, at Congress Avenue and Seventh Street, a few blocks south of the State Capitol. Both brands offer free Wi-Fi, and they share a 24-hour fitness center, business center, and 1,380 square feet of meeting space. The 32-story building includes a 278-room Aloft Austin Downtown along with a 144-room Element Austin Downtown. There’s also an on-site restaurant/coffeehouse/bakery called Caroline’s, and an “urban background playground” and bar called Upstairs at Caroline’s with live music. The Aloft offers high-ceilinged, loft-like accommodations with platform beds while the Element features studios and one-bedroom suites. Rates start at $349 at both hotels.

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Popular: 747 final flights + Fall hotel bonuses + New routes + New cards + Planespotting

September 10, 2017

Delta’s grand old 747 flew in to rescue Floridians from Irma’s wrath this week. Photo from Delta Museum’s 747 Experience at ATL. (Chris McGinnis)

Did you catch the hoo-hah surrounding Delta’s final domestic Boeing 747 flight earlier this week? The big jet flight originated in Honolulu, landed at Los Angeles LAX, and then flew its final commercial leg to Detroit. But as Irma strengthened in the Caribbean, and airlines took heat for price gouging and not doing enough to help travelers escape its path, Delta made a smart move– it pulled the Queen of the Skies out of her short retirement, and send it to Orlando several times over the weekend to help last minute evacuees get out of the way. Here’s our late Thursday tweet about this move, which proved to be one of our biggest tweets so far this year!

Good on @Delta! Putting the QUEEN back to work to help Floridians escape #Irma #747 MCO-DTW https://t.co/VmATtMPKhW #TravelSkills pic.twitter.com/MHuhCQwfPx
— Chris McGinnis (@cjmcginnis) September 8, 2017

Delta’s Boeing 747 is not done yet— it will continue to fly between the US and Asia until December. United’s final Boeing 747 flights will happen in October. Although neither airline has committed to a firm date, it’s expected that there will be some sort of ceremonial end for this beautiful bird. Stay tuned.

TravelSkills’ 10 most popular posts over the last week (descending order):

1 U.S. routes: Southwest, United, Alaska, AA, Delta, JetBlue + more

2 New transatlantic routes: Delta, American, BA, Lufthansa, United, WOW

3 Across the Pacific: Battle for Hong Kong + Flock of new A350s + lots more route news

4 New no-fee credit cards from Delta, United

5 Catching up after time off: What happened in August

6 A new way to Australia on United

7 Airberlin keeps operating – but for how long?

8 United, Delta 747 schedule: final flights

9 Planespotting: Boeing 737 vs Airbus A320 differences

10 Planespotting 101: Boeing 737 vs Airbus A320

Chris holed up at the fabulous St Regis Mexico City last month- don’t forget to sign up for SPG’s fall bonus! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

It’s time to get signed up for all the new fall promotions from hotel chains— in order to take advantage of these deals to help boost fall and winter bookings, you have to register to get the special bonuses— don’t miss out on bonus points or free nights by not registering because you never know when you might end up at one of these hotel chains:

Starwood’s SPG Explore More

Marriott Megabonus

Hilton Honors

IHG Rewards

Links to stories from other sources that we thought you’d like to read:

As Delta and Aeromexico get closer, Alaska Air gets shoved out (Image: Delta)

Alaska Airlines and Aeromexico break up

United Airlines won’t be fined for dragging Dr Dao

United and Star Alliance launch new “Connection Service” at O’Hare

Google enhances air, hotel price-searching tools

Unruly passenger ordered to pay airline $98,000

Study finds that the “Southwest Effect” on air fares still works

Will driverless cars be followed by pilotless planes?

Number of “bumped” passengers hits an all-time low

Investors seek to revive Milwaukee-based Midwest Express Airlines

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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Popular: Cheaper fares + Hilton penalty + Airline fees + JD Power surprise + Global Entry

July 23, 2017

All Hilton brands move to 48-hour cancellation policy, including the slick new Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills (Image: Waldorf Astoria Hotels)

TravelSkills’ 10 most popular posts over the last week (descending order):

1 Cheaper one-way or roundtrip? The old rules are changing

2 Hilton joins Marriott in restrictive 48-hour cancellation rule

3 Which airlines earn most from fees, frequent flyer programs?

4 Routes: More JetBlue Mint + Southwest, Delta, American, Alaska

5 Major Frontier expansion at San Jose, Denver, 19 other airports

Frontier shook up the airline industry last week with plans for big expansion. (Image: Frontier)

6 Routes: Delta to China, Mexico deals, Cathay upgrades, Saudi, WOW, United

7 Surprises in new JD Power hotel survey

8 Seriously: An airline for Millennials

9 Have dinner in a 70’s-era Pan Am 747

10 How to get Global Entry faster

Have you ever been on a flight that got a “wet salute? Share your story!

United Airlines getting a wet salute for inaugural SFO-Tampa flight last winter (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Links to stories from other sources that we thought you’d like to read:

Alaska likely to stick to all Boeing fleet- but Virgin’s Airbus fleet will fly away slowly

Delta is better at taking your money

Get your $25 airline bag fees back with new BestWestern promo

How to earn 2x or 3x points at Holiday Inn Express this summer

Near disaster at SFO worse than expected- see animation

Hungry? Grab a juicy Gott’s burger at its new SFO location in International Terminal A (Image: Gotts)

A better burger lands at SFO: Gott’s Roadside opens in International Terminal A

Atlanta hoping to land nonstop flight to India

DHS says world’s airlines have complied with its stricter security standards

SkyTeam adds two-stop option to its round-the-world pass fare

Avis upgrades its mobile app with new features, services

The Ritz-Carlton Chicago finishes a $100 million overhaul

Follow Chris on Instagram!

Big changes in the #SF skyline #travel #travelskills #california #skyscraper #sanfrancisco
A post shared by Chris McGinnis (@chrisjmcginnis) on Jul 21, 2017 at 3:03pm PDT

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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Hilton, Marriott, IHG impose restrictive new cancellation rules

July 18, 2017

New cancellation policy coming to all Hilton brands later this month (Image: Hampton Inns)

Starting July 31, you’ll have to cancel your Hilton hotel reservation a minimum of two days ahead of time or face paying full price for that first night. That’s right. All Hilton brands will soon join Marriott/Starwood in this restrictive new 48-hour cancellation policy.

The new last-minute cancellation policies are going into effect at Hilton at the end of this month.

We checked today and found the 24-hour policy still in effect at some hotels, so we assume this applies to all reservations made on July 31 and beyond. Hilton already has restrictive cancellation policies of 2-3 days in effect in high demand cities like San Francisco or New York.

A Hilton spokesperson told TravelSkills: “…we have proposed an update to our policy guidance for US and Canada hotels that will begin at the end of the month (July 31). We have proposed updating the default house cancellation policy to 48-hours (72-hours in select locations) for our managed properties and have suggested the same for franchised hotels (this decision will be made at the property level). As always, the cancellation policy associated with any reservation is made clear to our guests throughout the booking process and in the confirmation emails they receive…We regularly review guest booking and cancellation patterns across our 5,000+ properties, and have seen cancellation rates rise the last few years These insights have led to the proposed update, which will allow us to maximize the number of available rooms for guests seeking accommodation. Both guests and hotel owners will benefit from rooms that would previously have gone unused.”

Listen to Chris discuss this with KCBS anchor Rebecca Corral.

Some observers suspect that hotel chains impose these rules to prevent travelers from booking a standard rate, then canceling the reservation at the last minute and re-booking at a cheaper rate using popular new last-minute booking sites and apps.

UPDATE: July 25: InterContinental Hotels Group brands (Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, etc) imposed a 24-hour cancellation policy effective this August. (It’s only a matter of time before it moves to a 48-hour policy, we expect)

In high demand cities, Hilton already imposes a 2-3 day cancellation penalty (Image: Hilton Parc 55 San Francisco)

This sucks for business travelers because our schedules can change on a dime, and frequently do so with much less than 48 hours advance notice. Remember the good old days when you could cancel without penalty up to 6 pm on the day of arrival? In 2015, both Marriott and Hilton did away with that, upping the deadline to 24 hours- which did not sit well with TravelSkills readers at all (see post). Now this.

Now that both Marriott and Hilton are imposing the new policies, we’ll likely see the rest of the industry follow suit. Also keep in mind that several brands or individual properties have their own policies in place, so always check before you buy!

Another tip: Many hotels will work with travelers individually on these fees, so try to work it out with the hotel if you can. It can’t hurt to ask for an exception, especially if the cancellation is beyond your control, such as bad weather or flight cancellation. A polite plea might do the trick.

See New York Times story here.

How do you feel about a 48 hour cancellation policy? Please leave your comments below.

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Fly thru SFO’s new on-airport Hyatt hotel

June 21, 2017

A brand new on-airport Grand Hyatt coming to SFO in 2019. Scroll down for fly-thru (Photo: SFO)

San Francisco International Airport broke ground this week on the new Grand Hyatt at San Francisco International Airport, a new luxury hotel located on airport grounds, which should open in mid-2019.

The hotel will be located to the right of the airport’s roadway entrance, adjacent to the International Terminal parking garage. (Don’t miss the fly-thru below!)

It will face the large apron area behind the International Terminal A, offering fantastic views of Boeing 747s from British Airways, KLM and Qantas (among others).

Here’s what rooms will look like at SFO’s new Grand Hyatt (Rendering: SFO)

The hotel will have direct access to the airport AirTrain rail system– Hyatt expects that 60 percent of hotel visitors will arrive via the AirTrain to the lobby on the fourth floor. The roadway entrance will face the airport, with the noses of big jets peering over the blast fencing from the apron. Guests arriving by road will take elevators up to the fourth floor lobby.

The hotel will be built on the same site as the old Hilton Inn at SFO, which was built in 1959. For a reminiscent look at the old low-slung Hilton, and to see the dramatic expansion of the airport since then, check out this image from the SFO Museum. Anyone remember the hotel’s famous Tiger-A-Go-Go nightclub?

Grand Hyatt at SFO will feature 351 rooms, 15,000 square feet of meeting space, several restaurants, a Grand Club lounge and an extensive fitness center. Regrettably, there will be no viewing deck on the roof as previously hoped. But views from rooms, conference facilities and dining venue will be outstanding. Not sure I could pay much attention in a meeting when there’s a 747 lumbering past outside the window!

Check out the video below for a fly around the exterior of the new hotel.

The $237 million Grand Hyatt at SFO is being designed by San Francisco-based architecture firm Hornberger + Worstell with ED2 International, and constructed by Webcor Builders. The construction is expected to provide 350 jobs followed by an anticipated 200 hospitality jobs once the hotel opens.

What do you think? Are you an airport hotel regular… or not? Please leave your comments below.

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New: Hilton-Beverly Hills, Hyatt-NYC, Marriott-Phoenix, Westin-Milwaukee, Choice-Chicago

June 6, 2017

Guest rooms at the new Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills all have balconies. (Image: Waldorf Astoria Hotels)

Recent hotel openings include a Waldorf Astoria in the heart of Beverly Hills; the first Hyatt House property in New York City; a dual-branded Marriott in downtown Phoenix; Choice Hotels International’s Cambria brand in Chicago’s Loop; and a new Westin in Milwaukee.

Hilton’s luxury Waldorf Astoria brand has cut the ribbon on the newly-built, 12-story Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, located at the intersection of Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards, adjacent to the Beverly Hilton Hotel and within walking distance of Rodeo Drive. The property has 119 guest rooms and 51 suites, with a décor “inspired by the contemporary interpretation of Hollywood glamour and the Streamline Moderne style of the 1930s and 40s,” the company said. Each room has floor-to-ceiling windows and a private balcony. The hotel has a guests-only rooftop pool deck with VIP cabanas, and food/drink venues created by renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, including a rooftop restaurant, the Jean-George Beverly Hills Bar, and the signature Jean-Georges Beverly Hills restaurant. The hotel’s Rolls Royce will take guests anywhere within a two-mile radius. Honors rates start at $635.

Accommodations at the new Hyatt House in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. (Image: Hyatt)

The newest addition to Hyatt’s extended-stay Hyatt House brand is in New York City. The 150-room Hyatt House New York/Chelsea is at the corner of Sixth Avenue and 28^th Street. Accommodations are studio and one-bedroom units, ranging in size from 270 to 510 square feet; all units have a refrigerator and microwave, and half of them have full kitchenettes. They also come with floor-to-ceiling windows, large flat-panel TVs and dedicated work spaces. The 30^th floor rooftop features an open-air “recreational area” with great Manhattan views, along with a 24-hour indoor fitness center. The H Bar on the second floor serves up breakfast and evening food and cocktails, and the hotel has a 24-hour take-out market. Rates start at $329.

Marriott’s new Courtyard/Residence Inn in downtown Phoenix. (Image: Marriott)

In the heart of downtown Phoenix at 132 South Central Avenue is a newly-opened, dual-branded, 20-story Marriott property that includes a 120-room Courtyard and a 200-suite Residence Inn. The hotel has direct access to the city’s light rail network and is within walking distance of the Phoenix Convention Center. Shared facilities for the two brands include an indoor pool, a fitness center, and 5,733 square feet of meeting space. The Courtyard features a new guest-friendly room design that offers a “tech drop” ledge for charging personal devices. The multipurpose lobby provides “media pods,” free Wi-Fi and a bistro. The Residence Inn has studio suites designed for stays of five or more nights, each equipped with full kitchens. Amenities include free breakfast, grocery delivery, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour market. Rates start at $83 at the Courtyard and $129 at the Residence Inn.

Public areas at the Cambria Hotel in Chicago’s theater district. (Image: Cambria Hotels)

Choice Hotels International’s fast-growing Cambria brand has added a new property in downtown Chicago: The Cambria Chicago Loop-Theatre District. The 199-room hotel occupies the top 19 floors of the 22-story 32 West Randolph building, which went up in 1926. The lower part of the building is occupied by the historic Oriental Theater. Rooms have smart TVs, Bluetooth and free Wi-Fi, and the hotel has an American bistro restaurant called Social Circle. The hotel offers valet parking, and a game room with table games and TVs for watching sports events. Rates start at $178.

The new Westin Milwaukee has views of Lake Michigan. (Image: Westin Hotels)

Marriott’s Westin Hotels & Resorts brand has opened its first property in Wisconsin: The 220-room Westin Milwaukee. It’s located near the Lake Michigan waterfront at the end of Michigan Street, and is connected to the U.S. Bank Center. The property has nine meeting rooms totaling more than 9,000 square feet, along with a grand ballroom. The brand’s signature WestinWorkout fitness studio is there, along with suggested running routes along the lakefront as part of the RunWestin program. The hotel’s signature eatery is an Italian-American steakhouse called Stella Van Buren, and its bar has a “meticulously curated selection of bourbon” as well as an all-Wisconsin draft beer menu. SPG member prepaid rates start at $249.

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New hotels: New York, San Jose, Portland, Orange County

February 15, 2017

New York’s new 1 Hotel in Brooklyn has views of Manhattan. (Image: 1 Hotels)

Recent hotel openings include a luxury property on the Brooklyn waterfront and a DoubleTree in midtown Manhattan; new AC Hotels by Marriott in downtown San Jose and Portland; and a Homewood Suites by Hilton near Orange County’s John Wayne Airport.

Two years ago, a company called 1 Hotels opened a property in Manhattan near Central Park, and now it has cut the ribbon on its second New York hotel, the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. Created by original Starwood Hotels founder Barry Sternlicht, 1 Hotels brands itself as eco-friendly in design and materials, and focusing on fresh, healthy food in its restaurants.

The 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge is just south of that iconic span, along Brooklyn Bridge Park. It has 194 rooms, including 28 suites. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Manhattan, free high-speed Wi-Fi, 55-inch TVs, and digital newspapers via an in-room Nexus tablet. The hotel offers a 10^th floor hospitality lounge, a grab-and-go café, a screening room, and access to a 24-hour fitness center. This spring it will open a rooftop bar/lounge with a heated plunge pool and firepits, and next fall it will add a spa. Guests can grab free local rides in the hotel’s Tesla. There’s also 24-hour in-room dining, and shuttle service to local subway stations and to Wall Street. Advance purchase rates start at $271.

Don’t miss: TravelSkills walks thru 1 Hotel Central Park NYC

The rooftop bar at the new DoubleTree on Manhattan’s West Side. (Image: Hilton)

Hilton has cut the ribbon on the newly-built, 37-story DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel New York Times Square West, at 350 W. 40^th Street — halfway between Times Square and the Javits Center. The DoubleTree has 612 rooms with décor inspired by the Theater District. There’s a rooftop lounge offering nightly music until 2 a.m.; American bistro-style dining at Magnolia Restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; and a 24-hour market. The hotel has 1,000 square feet of meeting space. Guests who book direct with Hilton can pick up 1,000 bonus Honors points through April 30. Honors discount rates start at $157.

A room at Marriott’s new AC Hotel in San Jose. (Image: Marriott)

Downtown San Jose has its first new lodging option in more than a dozen years with the recent opening of a new AC Hotel by Marriott. Located at 350 W. Santa Clara Street, the AC Hotel — Marriott’s European-inspired “lifestyle” brand — has 210 rooms with free Wi-Fi, large-screen TVs, USB ports, safes and mini-fridges. Breakfast, tapas-style dinner and cocktails are available in the AC Kitchen & Lounge. Advance purchase rates start at $170.

Public space at the new AC Hotel in downtown Portland. (Image: Marriott)

Another new AC Hotel by Marriott has made its debut in downtown Portland, OR at 888 SW Third Avenue, at the corner of SW Taylor Street, about a block from the Multnomah County Courthouse. It has a coffee shop, an AC Kitchen for breakfast, and an AC Lounge for cocktails and tapas-style plates. There’s also a 24-hour fitness center. Rates start at $151.

Orange County’s new Homewood Suites is close to John Wayne Airport. (Image: Hilton)

Newly opened in Orange County, California is the 161-unit Homewood Suites by Hilton Irvine John Wayne Airport, at 17370 Red Hill Avenue. It has studio, one- and two-bedroom units, all with full kitchens. Daily hot breakfast is provided, along with Wi-Fi, and an evening social hour on weeknights. The hotel has a grocery shopping service, an outdoor pool and sports court, and a game room with billiards, and it offers free shuttle rides to and from the airport. Rates start at $149.

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Popular: United’s new jet + Nowhere flight + Hilton bonus + Airport trains + Rain

February 12, 2017

United’s first Boeing 777-300ER with Polaris seats goes into domestic service this week (Photo: United)

TravelSkills’ 10 most popular posts over the last week (descending order):

1 Ugh! United’s 4-hour flight to nowhere

2 Time to pave the Bay? Why SFO suffers so during rainy weather

3 Better watch out Someone’s spying on your strange airport behavior

4 Here come the Vikings….again Ultra-cheap transatlantic fares for 2 new cities

5 Check out where this reader went after his Qantas flight: Reader Report: Best economy seat on Qantas A380

SUNDAY UPDATE: United adds NYC airports to Feb 12-13 winter weather waiver

The new Denver Airport rail station is under the Westin Hotel. (Image: Jim Glab)

6 Best & worst airport-to-city trains– some great comments! Thanks 🙂

7 Simmer down! Emirates says Delta tantrum led to a six-hour flight delay

8 Dirty birds How often are planes washed?

9 Routes: Delta, Frontier grow Cincinnati + Southwest, Alaska, Spirit

10 70 readers have done this– you? How to get $200 for booking on Upside before Feb 28

Don’t miss this! An eagle snatches a drone out of the sky in military exercise

We’ve found a new “favorite place” just 20 minutes south of San Francisco: Pacifica. Step back in time and enjoy seafood and salt air at Nick’s Rockaway— or take a hike along the new Devil’s Slide trail!

Seafood, salt air & cocktails at the beach! #sf #travel #pacifica #restaurant
A photo posted by Chris McGinnis (@chrisjmcginnis) on Feb 10, 2017 at 9:59pm PST

Links to stories from other sources that we thought you’d like to read:

Another Hilton promo: get 500 extra points for booking via Honors app– all year!

Emotionally distressed United pilot removed from SFO jet

Airports? Nah! Uber envisions new “vertiports” for flying cars

Air Canada’s got a classy new black-white-red look– like it? We do! But as usual with new liveries, there are a lot of naysayers.

Air Canada’s new black, white and red livery on a B787 Dreamliner (Image: Air Canada)

Regional carriers worst for mishandling bags

Ski train serving Denver-Winter Park with slopeside service

$200

Get $200 when booking your next trip: Use code: TS!

Major airlines’ new “basic economy” fares hitting Spirit hard

Alaska says decision on Virgin America branding is coming next month

Why are airline computers crashing so much these days?

Dealing with work emails after hours can be bad for your health

Schiphol tests new scanner that lets passengers keep their shoes on

Singapore Airlines orders 39 new widebodies from Boeing

China plans to scan fingerprints of foreign visitors

Delta has designs on its tray tables- this is one of my favorite of the 12 works. Yours?

One of several new tray table designed on a Delta jet- thoughts?

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Most popular: London sale + Clean planes + Hilton Honors + New premium economy + Trivia Quiz

February 5, 2017

Looking at London across the Thames from the Corinthia Hotel (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

TravelSkills’ 10 most popular posts over the last week (descending order):

1 Deal Alert: $457 to London from SFO, San Jose, Oakland (Deal expired, but we’ll monitor for its return)

2 How often are planes washed?

3 Big changes for Hilton’s Honors program

4 WOW Air adds “premium” seats for West Coast flights

5 How to ride on United’s very first real Polaris flight

6 Test your travel smarts with this fun trivia quiz (1,600 readers have taken the test- what about you?)

A new InterContinental Hotel, the tallest in LA, will open later this year. Which airline owns it? Take the QUIZ to find out (Image: AC Martin)

7 At LAX: New United terminal, Qantas hangar, American & Delta swap

8 Routes: American’s Beijing problem + Virgin Atlantic, United, Air India, Bliss Jet

9 Watch this: PBS series takes inside look at aviation

10 Bay Area airports booming

We’ll be tuning in for this travel geeky PBS series on Feb 8– will you?

Links to stories from other sources that we thought you’d like to read:

10 new Bay Area hotels to open in 2017, 4 in downtown San Francisco

Airlines gearing up for fight with Trump over Cuba

TSA says it will significantly reduce number of non-members in PreCheck lines

Delta and Virgin Australia offering DOUBLE miles

10 of the best American cities to live comfortably on $40,000 a year

TravelSkills reader Janis C spotted TravelSkills’ Chris McGinnis quoted in this month’s American Way magazine en route to London.

Peak cherry blossoms in Tokyo March 22

Delta may be looking to increase business fares

Norwegian eyes a “low-cost alliance” with Europe’s Ryanair, easyJet

Spirit reduces allowable size of carry-on personal items

Atlanta is once again the world’s busiest airport for 2016

Trump’s hiring ban is said to leave TSA seriously understaffed

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Big changes for Hilton’s Honors program

January 31, 2017

Hilton’s new DoubleTree in Hilo, Hawaii. (Image: Hilton)

Nope, that’s not a misspelling in the headline. Hilton no longer has an HHonors program; it’s now called Hilton Honors after the company axed the extra H.

Starting today, the hotel giant’s name is now just “Hilton” instead of “Hilton Worldwide.” And with that new name, the company unveiled the following enhancements to its loyalty program:

Starting late in February, members will be able to combine program points and money to pay for a room booked through the Honors app or through Hilton.com. The website has added a new slider feature that members can adjust to see how many points/dollars would be required to book a specific room for a particular night. At least 5,000 points must be applied toward a combined points/cash payment.

Members will be able to pool their program points starting this spring with those of up to 10 family members or friends. “For context, a total of 11 Hilton Honors members will now be able to combine Points toward a stay – one pooler can initiate and receive Points from up to 10 other members,” a spokesperson tells T5avgelSkills. “It’s perfect when traveling for group events like family reunions or bachelorette parties.

So far 1,300 readers have taken the TravelSkills trivia quiz. Have you? COME ON! It’s fun!

Hilton will expand the potential uses of Honors points starting this summer through a tie-in with Amazon. Members will be able to spend HHonors points on purchases made through the online retailing giant.

Diamond-tier elite members will have a one-time option of extending their status level for one year, no questions asked, if they think they won’t travel enough that year to retain the status. To qualify, the Diamond member must have held that status for at least three years, and accumulated 250 nights or 500,000 points.

Here’s how Hilton is comparing its program to the industry:

So what do you think of the changes? Please leave your comments below.

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Hilton’s new HHonors bonus offer

January 27, 2017

Hilton’s new DoubleTree in Miami’s South Beach (Image: DoubleTree)

With its “Double Up” points promotion due to end next week, Hilton’s HHonors loyalty program has prepared a new bonus offer for the next few months.

HHonors’ new “2K Every Day” offer will take effect February 1 for stays through the end of April.

Good at more than 4,700 Hilton family hotels worldwide, the promotion will give registered HHonors members 2,000 bonus points “on every stay, every day,” a spokesperson tells TravelSkills. She noted that an online registration page for the promo will be coming soon.

The offer is “asterisk free,” she said – i.e., no exceptions or restrictions. It carries no minimum stay requirements, and no cap on potential point earnings.

Hilton cited the following example for a typical two-night stay: 3,000 Base Points + 1,500 Points & Points Bonus + 4,000 2K Every Day Bonus = 8,500 Points (33% more Points than you would earn under the Double Points offers Hilton ran last year).

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Marriott innovates; Hilton adds a brand

January 25, 2017

Marriott’s innovation lab tests new lodging ideas.(Image: Marriott)

How do these new lodging concepts sound to you: a “communal room” for every four guest rooms; to-go food containers with customized contents; and a portable wine cart activated by the guest’s key card? Meanwhile, Hilton plans to add a 14^th brand.

To gather feedback on new lodging concepts, Marriott International has opened what it calls a pop-up innovation lab in downtown Los Angeles. And those are some of the ideas it is putting to the test for its fast-growing Aloft and Element brands.

The company said it will invite not only hotel professionals but also hotel guests and members of the public to check out innovations on display at the facility to gauge their reaction.

The initial round of new concepts includes a new floor layout that provides a communal room in the center of four guest rooms, “allowing travelers to share a kitchen, dining room and lounge area.” Such a design, the company said, is aimed at groups “who would like to spend time together in a more private setting.”

The company’s food and beverage team has its eye on more fresh and healthy items like spinach, quinoa and avocado. Guests would use a digital kiosk to order “customized ‘pots,’ a healthy meal in a colorful to-go container with food that reflects regional tastes,” Marriott said.

And bringing technology to beverage service, a proposed “portable wine cart” at Element properties would automatically dispense a glass of wine when activated by a room key card.

The Great Room at the M-Beta at Charlotte Marriott City Center. (Image: Marriott)

After Marriott gathers sufficient feedback at the pop-up lab, the new ideas could be seen in Aloft and Element hotels as soon as fall of 2017, Marriott said. It’s the second “test lab” that Marriott has opened recently; it is also trying out new concepts in real time at at a hotel in Charlotte, N.C.

Hilton, meanwhile – perhaps feeling pressure from the massive collection of brands at the newly merged Marriott/Starwood — announced it is adding a 14th brand to its family.

Called Tapestry Collection by Hilton (www.tapestrycollection.com), the brand will be somewhat like Hilton’s Curio Collection in that it will bring more independent properties into the Hilton reservations system and HHonors loyalty program.

The company said the new Tapestry brand “is positioned in the upscale segment just below Curio,” which is going into its third year with a membership of more than 30 “upper upscale” hotels in seven countries, and 45 more in the pipeline.

Hilton said the first Tapestry member properties will be in Syracuse, N.Y.; Chicago, Ill.; Nashville, Tenn.; Warren, N.J.; Hampton, Va.; and two in Indianapolis, Ind. It did not name the hotels. It added that it has 35 more potential Tapestry members in process, with the brand scheduled to kick off in the third quarter of this year.

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New facets for HHonors Diamond lifetime status

December 16, 2016

HHonors Diamond members can get free premium Wi-Fi at hotels like the New York Hilton Midtown. (Image: Hilton)

Hilton’s loyalty program is making it a little easier to earn its highest elite status permanently.

Effective next month, a company spokesperson tells TravelSkills, Hilton’s HHonors program is making a couple of adjustments to the requirements for lifetime Diamond designations.

The current rules state that members who want lifetime Diamond status must have maintained Diamond status for a minimum of 10 years — not necessarily consecutive ones – and stayed at least 1,000 total paid nights in Hilton properties.

Under the new terms, those 1,000 nights needed to qualify can be either paid nights or award nights.

As an alternative to the 1,000 nights, 10-year Diamond members can now gain lifetime status by accumulating 2 million base points in the HHonors program.

“Only base points are eligible” for the latter requirement, the spokesperson said. “Bonus points earned via promotions, co-branded credit cards, or other means do not count towards status.”

The company will notify members by email in February 2017 if they have qualified for a lifetime Diamond status by December 31 of this year. “If you want a sneak peek to find out if you will qualify, you can contact the Diamond Desk and the team will be happy to help,” the spokesperson said.

Here’s a summary of the current requirements to achieve Diamond status annually, and a list of the benefits associated with that level.

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New hotels: W – Vegas, Conrad – Chicago, Hilton – New York, DoubleTree – Hawaii + more

December 6, 2016

A Philippe Starck-designed guest room at the new W Las Vegas. (Image: Marriott)

In U.S. hotel news, Marriott/Starwood opens a new W in Las Vegas; the Conrad Chicago makes its debut; Hilton adds a location in downtown Brooklyn and an affiliate in Manhattan, as well as a DoubleTree in Hawaii; and there’s a new boutique property in the Twin Cities.

One of the two towers at the SLS Las Vegas – which is a member of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio – has been transformed into a 289-room W Hotel. Marriott took on the W brand as part of its merger with Starwood, and this becomes the first W in Las Vegas. The W’s rooms were designed by Philippe Starck, offering “a cheeky interpretation of luxury hospitality,” the company said, along with the W brand’s signature bedding and Bliss bath amenities. At the top of the tower is a 2,382 square foot Extreme WOW Suite designed by Lenny Kravitz. (Yes, that Lenny Kravitz.) The W has 15,000 square feet of its own meeting space, plus another 80,000 in the SLS complex. There’s a rooftop bar called the Wet Deck, a spa and fitness center, and a total of seven restaurants in the complex. Rates start as low as $114.

An atrium with a view at the new Conrad Chicago.(Image: Conrad Hotels)

At 101 E. Erie in downtown Chicago, a former office building has been transformed into the newly opened Conrad Chicago, a part of the Hilton family of brands. The 20-story Conrad has 287 rooms and suites equipped with personal refrigerators, big 96-inch beds, 65-inch TVs and keyless entry. Guests can use the hotel’s luxury car service for free drop-offs within a two-mile radius. Food and beverage options include an Italian restaurant on the ground floor, a “bourbon- centric” eatery with American cuisine on the 20th floor, and a Japanese rooftop restaurant coming next summer. Guests can sample some of what Chicago offers without leaving the premises by using the hotel’s VR Concierge, offering 360-degree views through an Oculus VR headset. Rates start at $225. (The previous Conrad Chicago in 2015 was transformed into The Gwen, a member of Starwood’s Luxury Collection.)

A guest room at the Brooklyn Hilton. (Image: Hilton)

New York City’s borough of Brooklyn has become a hot spot for commercial development, and Hilton has just opened a property in Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill neighborhood, two blocks from Atlantic Avenue and not far from the Brooklyn Heights Historic District and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. The Hilton Brooklyn New York at Smith and Schermerhorn streets occupies a building that used to be a rope factory in the 19^th century. The 196-room Hilton has a 24-hour fitness center, a business center, concierge service and a grab-and-go pantry. Through May 29, HHonors members can earn an extra 1,000 points per night when they stay here. Non-refundable advance purchase rates start as low as $135; regular rates are from $159. (Meanwhile, an independent luxury property called The Renwick that opened last year in Manhattan on East 40^th Street has just become a member of Hilton’s Curio Collection, making it a participant in Hilton’s reservations system and HHonors program.)

Hilton’s new DoubleTree in Hilo, Hawaii. (Image: Hilton)

In Hawaii, the former Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo, on the Big Island, has gone through a $30 million overhaul and emerged as a DoubleTree by Hilton. The 320-room hotel – the first DoubleTree on the Big Island — is on a 70-acre oceanfront site just two miles from Hilo International Airport. It has a nine-hole golf course, a big outdoor pool, 24-hour business center, and 13,000 square feet of meeting space. Guest rooms come with free Wi-Fi, big work desks, microwaves, refrigerators, and DoubleTree’s signature beds. Hilton is offering Honors members 5,000 bonus points for a minimum three-night stay at the hotel through March 15 when they book directly with Hilton. HHonors rates start at $154 in January on direct bookings.

A cozy room at The Hewing in Minneapolis. (Image: Aparium Hotel Group)

What was formerly an old warehouse in the North Loop section of Minneapolis has been reborn as a boutique hotel. The 124-room Hewing Hotel is at the corner of Washington and 3^rd Avenue, featuring “Nordic-inspired décor” like lots of bare wood and rooms with exposed brick walls and timber ceilings. It has a rooftop bar, spa pool and sauna; and a main floor restaurant called Tullibee. The Hewing is operated by the Chicago-based Aparium Hotel Group, which also runs the Iron Horse Hotel in Milwaukee. Rates start at $179.

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Most popular: Cheap flights to London | Transcon sale | Free Vegas | Hilton promo | Best Credit Card

November 6, 2016

What a great week to be in Washington DC on the eve of an election for a Boarding Area conference (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

TravelSkills’ 10 most popular posts over the last week (descending order):

1 British Airways adds yet another Bay Area nonstop

2 Routes: Delta, ANA, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, JetBlue, Alaska

3 Deal Alert: Transcon fares plummet in December

4 5 fabulously free things to do in Las Vegas

The view over the Venetian from my room at the Palazzo in Las Vegas (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Don’t miss our post about free things to do in Las Vegas. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

5 17 moments in 17 hours on Singapore Airlines Airbus A350

6 These two Virgins are splitting up

7 Delta details plush premium economy plans

8 How to choose the best travel credit card

9 New hotels: Minneapolis, Chicago, Silicon Valley, Nashville, Atlanta

10 New device offers drivers a heads-up, hands-free display

Don’t miss: More cheap flights across the Atlantic-KLM, AirFrance, BA

Hilton HHonors members who book through the HHonors App (get it here) and pay with a Visa credit card for stays during November 2, 2016 – January 31, 2017 will earn an additional 5,000 Bonus Points. How? Here are the details http://www.HHonors.com/VisaBonus.

REDRUM! We checked out this gorgeous new hotel recently and will write about it this week. Any guesses? (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Links to stories from other sources that we thought you’d like to read:

Post-takeover layoffs begin at Starwood

Marriott installs “like” buttons throughout hotel

A beautiful behind-the-scenes planespotting tour at SFO (Slideshow)

Airlines bump up capacity for bigger Thanksgiving travel crowds

Airlines: Profitable, but worried

Delta rolled out updates to its already awesome app last week. Details included in this short video:

New pet relief rooms in concourses at ATL include fire hydrants

Delta finished Wi-Fi installations on its long-haul aircraft

Study: Most companies’ travel policies don’t cover Uber/Lyft rides on international trips

Uber unveils a big redesign of its app

Hello Gorgeous! New spa for Delta employees at ATL

Judge refuses to throw out price-fixing suit against major U.S. airlines

Lufthansa retires its last 737

Survey: Business travelers are more concerned about maintaining a good work/life balance

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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New hotels: Minneapolis, Chicago, Silicon Valley, Nashville, Atlanta

November 1, 2016

A guest room at the Radisson Red in Minneapolis. (Image: Radisson)

Recent U.S. business hotel openings include a pair of properties in Minneapolis, and another pair in Nashville; a dual-branded hotel in Chicago; big Bay Area/Silicon Valley hotel re-flags, and a new Marriott brand in Atlanta.

In Minneapolis, Radisson has set a November 16 opening for the first U.S. location of its new Radisson Red brand. The Radisson Red Minneapolis Downtown is a new build at 609 Third Street South, part of the Minneapolis Downtown East mixed-use development; it’s linked to the Wells Fargo Office Tower and the new U.S. Bank Stadium via the city’s skyway system. The hotel has 164 rooms (Radisson Red calls them studios) with free high-speed Wi-Fi. Its OUIBar + KTCHN focuses on locally sourced cuisine and craft beverages. And it offers a fitness center plus a 1,000 square foot “Events & Games Studio” for activities that can liven up meetings. Radisson is offering triple Gold Points for stays through February. Rates start at $139.

A King room at Marriott’s new AC Hotel in Minneapolis. (Image: Marriott)

Another newly built, newly opened property in Minneapolis is Marriott’s AC Hotel, part of a fast- growing new Marriott group with a style that reflects AC’s European origins. It’s located on Hennepin Avenue at S. Fourth Street, across from the city’s main library. The property is connected to the skyway system and to the Midtown Parking Garage. Its 245 rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and smart TVs that can stream Netflix, Hulu and other services; and the hotel has several conference rooms and a fitness room. There’s no full-service restaurant; the AC Kitchen serves breakfast only, and the AC Lounge offers drinks and tapas plates in the evening. Marriott Rewards advance purchase rates start at $149.

Accommodations at Hilton’s new Hampton Inn in Chicago’s West Loop. (Image: Hilton)

In downtown Chicago, Hilton has cut the ribbon on a dual-branded hotel in the West Loop neighborhood. With a combined total of 336 rooms, the Hampton Inn by Hilton Chicago Downtown West Loop and the Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown West Loop are at 116-118 N. Jefferson, between Randolph and Washington. That’s about halfway between the river and I-90, two blocks west of the Boeing headquarters. The Hampton Inn offers a daily hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi, 24-hour business center and a fitness center. The Homewood Suites has all-suite guest accommodations; each unit comes with a fully equipped kitchen and separate living and sleeping areas. There’s a hot breakfast buffet, evening social, free Wi-Fi and grocery shopping service. HHonors advance purchase rates start at $90 at both properties.

Lobby of the Pullman San Francisco Bay hotel (Image: Accor Hotels)

The big Sofitel located along Highway 101 and the shores on San Francisco Bay just south of the SFO near Redwood City is not new, but has a new name. It’s now the Pullman San Francisco Bay Hotel— still part of Accor, but likely a brand many Americans have not heard of. The only other Pullman hotel in the US is located in Miami. Have you stayed at a Pullman? What makes it different than a Sofitel? Its website states: “Today Pullman appeals to the new generation of professional travelers, the Pullman global nomads, and captures the significance of each moment and their pursuit of a work-life blend.” Rooms start at around $300 per night.

A room at the new Thompson Nashville. (Image: Thompson Hotels)

Thompson Hotels, known for its luxury boutique properties, has opened its newest U.S. location in Nashville. It’s at 401 11^th Avenue South, in a trendy area called The Gulch where former industrial buildings have been transformed into commercial ventures. The hotel is on the same block as a popular music venue called The Station Inn. Dining options at The Thompson Nashville include a southern/seafood restaurant called The Marsh House; a bar and small-plate venue called L.A. Jackson; and Killebrew, serving coffee, breakfast sandwiches and grab-and-go lunch fare. The 12-story, 224-room Thompson ties into the local music culture with things like a classic jukebox in the lobby and vinyl records for sale in the minibars. Introductory rates start at $247.

The Westin Nashville is in the heart of downtown. (Image: Westin)

Nashville’s other new hotel is the 27-story, 453-room Westin Nashville, at 807 Clark Place in the heart of the city, close to the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman Auditorium and other attractions. The hotel has a rooftop pool and bar called L27 with daily live entertainment; a spa with nine treatment rooms; a casual lobby eatery called Decker & Dyer and a fancier venue called Oak Steakhouse Nashville. The Westin also has a dozen meeting rooms. Guests can use the WestinWorkout fitness studio or take advantage of the hotel’s suggested three- and five-mile jogging routes. Rates begin at $279.

Marriott’s new AC Hotel in Atlanta’s Buckhead district. (Image: Marriott)

In addition to its new AC Hotel in Minneapolis, Marriott has also cut the ribbon on an AC in Atlanta. The 166-room AC Hotel Atlanta Buckhead at Phipps Plaza, located at 3600 Wieuca Road Northeast, is the first new hotel in the city’s Buckhead district in eight years. Like other ACs, it lacks a full-service restaurant, but offers the AC Kitchen for breakfast and the AC lounge for drinks and evening small plate dining. Plus there is plenty to eat at the nearby Phipps Plaza or Lenox Square malls. There’s also an AC Library and a 24-hour fitness center with a heated indoor whirlpool. Marriott Rewards advance purchase rates start at $211.

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Chinese hotel investors strike again – this time at Hilton

October 27, 2016

The new Hilton Cleveland Downtown overlooks Lake Erie. (Image: Hilton)

What is the fascination that Chinese companies have with U.S. hotel companies? Early this year, China’s Anbang Insurance made a $6.5 billion deal to acquire Strategic Hotels & Resorts, then followed up with a failed attempt to take over Starwood Hotels in a see-saw $14 billion bidding battle against Marriott.

Meanwhile, a unit of the Chinese conglomerate HNA Group last spring arranged with Minneapolis-based Carlson Companies to buy that privately-held firm’s Carlson Hotels business, including several Radisson brands as well as its 51 percent stake in Europe’s Rezidor Hotels Group. The price was not disclosed.

And now HNA Group has anted up $6.5 billion for a 25 percent stake in Hilton Worldwide; the deal is expected to close early next year.

The seller of the 25 percent Hilton stake — for which HNA paid a premium of almost 15 percent over the going price for Hilton shares – was the same firm that sold Strategic Hotels to Anbang: the giant U.S. investment house Blackstone Group, which took Hilton private in 2007 and then took it public with an IPO in 2013 that raised $2.3 billion. (By the way, Anbang also acquired the legendary Waldorf Astoria in New York in 2015 for almost $2 billion.)

The new deal will give HNA two seats on Hilton’s board. Blackstone will retain a 21 percent stake in Hilton Worldwide. HNA Group owns hotels, airlines (including China’s Hainan Airlines), airports, financial services firms and real estate companies.

San Diego’s Hotel del Coronado. (Image: Jim Glab)

Meanwhile, Anbang’s purchase of Strategic Hotels hit one little snag. Strategic has just 16 hotels, but they are prime properties like the InterContinental and Fairmont in Chicago, New York’s JW Marriott Essex House, and some Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton hotels. The group also includes San Diego’s Hotel del Coronado, and Blackstone had to cut that one out of the sale after objections from a U.S. government inter-agency group called the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

The reason? National security concerns, because the del Coronado is right next to a giant U.S. Navy base in San Diego.

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Gorgeous new hotels: New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Maui, Buffalo

October 12, 2016

The impressive lobby of the new Four Seasons New York Downtown (Image: Four Seasons)

In domestic hotel developments, Four Seasons adds a second Manhattan location; the hotel closest to Los Angeles International Airport gets a makeover and rebranding; Hilton adds a DoubleTree in South Beach; Marriott Rewards members get a new option in Maui; and Starwood opens a Westin in the heart of New York State’s second-largest city.

At TravelSkills, we love NEW hotels– don’t miss our archive of the best of this beautiful new bunch here

Four Seasons Hotels, which has had a flagship property in midtown Manhattan for many years, has now opened a downtown location in the Big Apple. Located at 27 Barclay Street, at the corner of Church Street, The Four Seasons New York Downtown is close to the new World Trade Center and a block from City Hall Park. The property has 189 rooms and suites ranging from 400 to 2,400 square feet, and is home to the first Wolfgang Puck restaurant in Manhattan, called CUT. The hotel has a spa, an indoor lap pool and a 6,000 square foot fitness center. The building housing the hotel also has 157 Four Seasons private residences from one to five bedrooms, with access to hotel facilities. Rates begin at $629.

A refurbished suite at the Hyatt Regency at LAX (Image: Hyatt)

The Concourse Hotel, a block from Los Angeles International Airport at 6225 West Century Blvd., was already a Hyatt affiliate, but now the 580-room property is getting a $75 million overhaul and has been rebranded as the Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport. The work should be finished in a few months, equipping all guest rooms with the Hyatt Grand Bed, wall-mounted 55-inch TVs with HDMI streaming, free high-speed Wi-Fi, and rain shower heads in the bathrooms. The redesigned lobby will feature a pair of new eateries: Open Market, with grab-and-go sandwiches, salads, soup, noodles, pastries and Illy coffee; and an all-day dining option called Unity LA. Free shuttles for guests depart to LAX every 10 minutes. Rates start around $186 for Gold Passport members.

Hilton’s new DoubleTree in Miami’s South Beach (Image: DoubleTree)

What was once the 1954 Ankara Motel in Miami’s popular South Beach has been rebuilt and is now the newly opened Gates Hotel South Beach-A DoubleTree by Hilton. Located at 2360 Collins Avenue, the 235-room property is a walk away from Ocean Drive and the area’s dining and nightlife options. The hotel has a lobby bar that exits to an outdoor pool with solar-powered device charging stations. There’s a restaurant called The Continental; free Wi-Fi throughout the property; 24-hour business center and fitness center; guest bicycles; and free transportation to the beach. Rates start at $122.

The pool at Marriott’s new Residence Inn in Maui (Image: Marriott)

Marriott Rewards members looking to redeem points for a Hawaii vacation have a new option: the newly-built, newly-opened Residence Inn by Marriott Maui Wailea. The all-suite property has studio, one-, and two-bedroom units with fully equipped kitchens and balconies. Recreational facilities include an outdoor pool and hot tub, putting green and basketball court. Guests get free hot breakfasts, grocery delivery service, and access to a fitness center, Wi-Fi, 24-hour grab-and-go market, and a business center. The hotel is located close to a shopping center, beaches, golf courses and a tennis club. Rates begin at $269.

Buffalo’s new Westin is in the heart of downtown. (Image: Westin)

Got business in Buffalo? As part of an ongoing revival of the city’s downtown, Starwood Hotels has opened the newly-built Westin Buffalo at 250 Delaware Avenue, in the midst of the business and entertainment districts. All 116 rooms and suites have the signature Westin Heavenly Bed and Shower. The Westin offers 7,300 square feet of meeting space and a pair of dining venues: a signature restaurant called Patina 250 and the casual bistro-style Jake’s Café. Guests can take advantage of the WestinWORKOUT fitness center, and can borrow workout gear from New Balance or bicycles from the local Reddy Bikeshare program. Rates start at $166.

At TravelSkills, we love NEW hotels– don’t miss our archive of the best of this beautiful new bunch here

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Most popular: Fare sale + Card wars + Narrow seats + New biz class + more

October 9, 2016

The spectacular view from the brand new CityScape bar atop the Hilton San Francisco. Note the cranes on the new Salesforce Tower, soon to be the tallest building in town at 1,070 feet and 61 stories. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

TravelSkills’ 10 most popular posts over the last week (descending order):

1 Deal Alert: Major domestic fall winter fare sale (Sale expired with all airlines matching)

2 Amex spars with Chase, Citi Big news for big spenders as card wars erupt

3 Kicking “support animals” off the plane

4 Airport news: Newark, Seattle, Phoenix, Dulles, Boston

5 10-across is just not right Airlines increasingly narrow-minded about seat width

United’s new Polaris eyeshades are concave on the eye-side (Photo: Scott Hintz)

6 Deep Dive: United Polaris business class (Part 3 of 3) Bedding, Amenities, Service

7 Little rascals Another airline adds “kid-free” seating

8 Deep Dive: United Polaris business class (Part 1 of 3)

9 Comfy new way across Pacific Hawaiian’s classy new lie-flat seats now on sale

10 Kinda corny, but amassed over a million views in a week: A new Jennifer Aniston ad from Emirates

DONT MISS! The 100,000 points question!

ICYMI: Surprise winner for best hotel loyalty program

Airport Encounters now playing in LA (Photo: Larry Gene Fortin)

TravelSkills reader T.M. sent along a great recommendation for frequent flyers living or visiting LA: “People watching has always been a fun way to kill time between flights. Now, thanks to a cast of more than two dozen actors and eight writers, we can watch ten terminal vignettes in the new Los Angeles-based play, ‘Airport Encounters.’ Staged in the intimate 50-seat Lounge Theatre in Hollywood, the play is an entertaining take off on air travel and its passengers. Here’s the link to get tix: neoensembletheatre.org”

Links to stories from other sources that we thought you’d like to read:

American’s new Premium Economy section will have leather seats in a 2-3-2 layout. (Image: American Airlines)

American Air to roll out “true” premium economy section in November

Free airport lounge wi-fi passwords for hundreds of airports around the world

Fares down under dip below $1,000 roundtrip on Air New Zealand

Book a stay on the Hilton HHonors app this fall to earn triple points

Samoans complain about weight discrimination on Hawaiian Airlines

What do Delta and Donald Trump have in common?

SkyTeam launches online tool for retroactively claiming flight credits

Study: Headphones can make in-flight meals taste better

Austrian Airlines plans to add a premium economy section

Qatar Airways places huge order for Boeing widebodies

UN-affiliated aviation group agrees to set carbon emissions limits for airlines

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson will get hundreds of electric vehicle chargers

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Surprise winner for best value hotel program

October 8, 2016

The Wyndham Orlando Resort is part of the Wyndham Rewards program. (Image: Wyndham)

Want to get the best possible return on your hotel spending when you claim award stays in a loyalty program? According to a new study, you won’t get the best reward stay value from Hilton, InterContinental, Marriott or Starwood.

The second annual investigation from IdeaWorks Company and Switchfly found that loyalty program members get the best return from Wyndham’s Wyndham Rewards, which provided members an average reward stay return of 13.6 percent on their spending. “That’s a 143 percent higher return than the reward value provided by Starwood SPG, which was ranked last among the six hotel loyalty programs at 5.6 percent for reward payback,” the company said.

In a similar study it conducted a year ago, IdeaWorks only included Marriott, Starwood, Hilton and InterContinental Hotels Group. This year, it added Wyndham and Choice Hotels International.

And this year’s study was conducted in August – just before the Marriott/Starwood merger was finalized, and before Marriott announced that members of Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest could link their loyalty accounts.

How did the company calculate a traveler’s award stay “return” on hotel spending? It conducted more than 1,300 reward stay requests across the six brands, recording the lowest point price for rewards and the corresponding dollar price of the room, adjusting for the different rates of point accrual in the various programs. Thus it came up with a percentage return on spending. (What this survey leaves out are the elite level perks that can greatly increase the perceived value of each program, especially in the eyes of business travelers.)

“For example, the 9% rate for Marriott Rewards represents average reward value payback of $9.00 for every $100 spent on hotel room rates,” the company said. “By comparison, IdeaWorks Company calculated that reward payback for major US airlines ranges from 3.1% to 7.9%.”

The report noted that these returns are only averages, and that the actual “payback” on award rooms can vary considerably depending on the property selected and the dates of stay, since room rates vary by demand while award prices generally remain the same. The best return the study found was a 39.1 percent rate for a December 10 stay at Wyndham’s NYC-The New Yorker hotel, where 15,000 points secured a room priced at $587 that night. The worst was a 2.0 percent return for a February 18 stay at Starwood’s Westin New York Grand Central, with 25,000 points required for a $253 room.

The company said it added Wyndham and Choice to the study this year to include brands that are heavy in “the economy end of the market,” vs. the higher-end products of Hilton, IHG, Marriott and Starwood.

“Consumers should be careful when choosing a program,” the company noted. “Choice has a very unusual and highly restrictive approach for availability and booking. General members can only book rewards 30 days in advance, or 60 days for hotels outside the US and Canada. Elite status provides a larger booking window up to 100 days in advance. And while Wyndham Grand (i.e., Wyndham’s high-end brand) was found to offer exceptional reward payback, the brand’s global footprint is limited to 30+ hotels in eight countries.”

A room at the Howard Johnson Manhattan Soho hotel in NYC (Photo: Wyndham Hotels)

Wyndham has 15 brands, including Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Wyndham Garden Hotels, Wyndham Grand, Wingate by Wyndham, TRYP by Wyndham, Travelodge, Super 8, Ramada, Microtel, Knights Inn, Howard Johnson’s, Hawthorn Suites, Dolce, Days inn and Baymont Inn & Suites.

What do you think of Wyndham’s brands? Does it’s higher value rating make you more inclined to stay at one of them? Please leave your comments below.

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Exciting new hotels: New York, Chicago, Washington, Minneapolis, Denver

September 10, 2016

A central atrium is a highlight of the new Beekman Hotel in New York City. (Image: Thompson Hotels)

Recent hotel openings in key business destinations include a pair of properties in lower Manhattan; an addition to the Kimpton family in downtown Chicago; a dual-branded Hilton in Washington D.C.; an all-suite Hilton affiliate in Minneapolis; and an independent property in Denver’s Cherry Creek North neighborhood.

The upscale Thompson Hotels group has cut the ribbon on a new Manhattan property called The Beekman, located near the intersection of Beekman and Nassau streets in lower Manhattan, a block from City Hall Park and near the western approach to the Brooklyn Bridge. The project required a three-year overhaul and restoration of a landmark building dating back to 1883, characterized by a vast skylight-topped central atrium that has been preserved right down to its cast-iron railings. As a hotel, it has 287 guest rooms, including 45 suites – two of them with access to the rooftop. Rooms start at 285 square feet. The hotel’s signature restaurant, Fowler & Wells, is from celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, and renowned New York restaurateur Keith McNally is behind the hotel’s brasserie restaurant called Augustine. Rates start at $439.

Compact guest rooms are characteristic of the new Arlo in lower Manhattan. (Image: Arlo Hotels)

Compact guest rooms are characteristic of the new Arlo Hudson Square Hotel in lower Manhattan. (Image: Arlo Hotels)

Also new in Manhattan is the 325-room Arlo Hudson Square Hotel at 231 Hudson Street, just west of SoHo and just north of Canal Street. Arlo Hotels calls the property a four-star “micro-hotel,” which means it has guest rooms that average a mere 160 square feet, featuring “warm, high-touch materials and clever elements like fold-down desks and closets with adjustable hanging pegs,” the company said. It has a mod décor, lobby bar and restaurant, and a rooftop bar with views of the Hudson River. There’s also a public space called The Library that “evolves from a co-working space during the day into an area of fun in the evening, complete with a vast selection of vintage board games, throwback movies, and cocktail service from the Lobby Bar.” Opening rates start at $199. Another new Arlo is due to open on East 31^st Street later this fall.

The Vol. 39 lobby bar at the new Kimpton Gray Hotel in Chicago. (Image: Kimpton Hotels)

In downtown Chicago, InterContinental’s Kimpton Hotels unit has cut the ribbon on The Kimpton Gray Hotel, a makeover of the historic New York Life Insurance Building in the financial district at 122 West Monroe Street, built in 1894. Grand opening rates start as low as $168 on weekends. The 293-room Gray retains Art Deco details in its interior as well as its gray granite exterior, but with all the modern amenities. Kimpton’s fifth Chicago location, the Gray has a 15^th-floor rooftop bar with cocktails and small plates of South American cuisine; a lobby bar called Vol. 39; and a New American restaurant called Steadfast.

Hilton’s new dual-branded Washington D.C. hotel is near Union Station. (Image: Hilton)

Hilton has expanded its presence in Washington D.C. with the opening of a 239-room dual-branded Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites property at 501 New York Avenue NE. Called the Hampton Inn by Hilton Washington D.C. NoMa Union Station and the Homewood Suites by Hilton Washington D.C. NoMa Union Station, the hotels are near the Metro’s Red Line at NoMa-Gallaudet U Station, not far from the U.S. Capitol. The hotels have separate lobbies and check-in desks but share a fitness center and pool as well as free Wi-Fi. The extended-stay Homewood Suites offers studio and one-bedroom units with full kitchens and separate living and sleeping areas, and both offer free hot breakfasts. HHonors advance purchase rates start at $161 at the Hampton Inn and $149 at the Homewood Suites.

Downtown Minneapolis is home to a new Embassy Suites from Hilton. (Image: Hilton)

What was once the Plymouth Building, an historic Beaux Arts structure in downtown Minneapolis at 12 Sixth Street South, is now the Embassy Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Downtown. The 290-unit all-suite property is linked to the city’s Skyway system and close to the Minneapolis Convention Center. Guests get free Wi-Fi, hot breakfasts and evening reception with snacks and drinks, and two-room suites have 49-inch TVs, walk-in showers, microwaves, mini-fridges and desks with ergonomic chairs. The hotel also has 12,600 square feet of meeting space in 10 rooms; a lobby bar with morning coffee service; and Lyon’s Pub, with beer on tap and bar food, as well as a fitness center and heated indoor pool. HHonors advance purchase discount rates start at $199.

The independent Halcyon Hotel is in Denver’s Cherry Creek North district. (Image: Halcyon)

Newly opened in Denver is a 154-room independent hotel called Halcyon, located in the Cherry Creek North retail/commercial district southeast of downtown. It’s the first newly built hotel in the neighborhood in 13 years. The luxury property offers guests e-bikes and Vespas to get around the neighborhood and the city, and has a program called Gear Garage that “allows guests to dive into the destination of Denver through hands-on learning of various skills and immersive adventures on a complimentary basis.” Like so many new urban hotels, Halcyon has a rooftop bar and pool. The Halcyon has a fitness center, and it offers Asian cuisine at a restaurant called Departure; it will soon open an Italian restaurant as well. Rates begin at $299.

(We’re back from summer vacation! In case you missed our other recent round-up posts, here they are: Domestic Routes Roundup | Tips from a Hawaiian Vacation | August’s most important travel news)

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The secret reason for new hotel loyalty discounts

July 8, 2016

View from the street near The Best Western Herald Square in NYC where Rewards members get 10% off (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Earlier this year, we saw a trend among the biggest hotel chains – including Hilton, Marriott, InterContinental and Best Western, among others – offering exclusive discounts to members of their loyalty programs.

Was this just the hotel companies’ latest attempt to sweeten program membership for their loyalists by adding another perk? While customers certainly benefit from getting a price break, the companies had another motive, according to the Wall Street Journal (paywall).

The exclusive discounts for frequent stay program members came with a restriction: To get them, customers have to book directly with the hotel company through its website or app. Reservations placed through third parties didn’t qualify.

The Journal says that the real reason for the hotel giants offering those discounts was to fight back against online travel agencies and booking services that were handling an increasingly large portion of hotel bookings – and collecting a substantial commission for each one.

The hotel companies used to collect more revenue from direct bookings than they did from reservations made through online travel agencies, the Journal noted. That changed in 2015, when the amount of bookings that came in through sites like Expedia and Priceline surpassed that of the chains’ own sites, having an adverse impact on their bottom lines.

Renovated guest room at the Hilton Union Square in San Francisco. (Image: Hilton)

The article noted that some online booking services are starting to fight back with tactics like giving lower priority in search results to hotels of the chains that are promoting loyalty discounts on direct bookings. Still, you have to consider your own bottom line: If you are not already a member of all major hotel frequent stay programs, you should at least sign up for basic membership if it means a discount.

Readers: Has the offer of exclusive loyalty program discounts enticed you to start booking hotel rooms directly with your preferred supplier? Do you ever book through third-party online services? Leave comments below.

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New hotels: Washington D.C., Atlanta, Honolulu, Boston, Cleveland

July 2, 2016

Rendering of “Top of the Gate” a new rooftop bar at the recently revamped Watergate Hotel (Image: Watergate Hotel)

In U.S. hotel news, a legendary property reopens in the nation’s capital; Marriott finishes up a big Atlanta overhaul; Hilton adds a new affiliate in downtown Boston and a big Garden Inn in Hawaii; and downtown Cleveland gets another 189 rooms.

Who’s not familiar with the name Watergate? The notorious Washington D.C. complex where Richard Nixon’s big scandal got its start also includes a famous hotel that’s been closed for nine years. But now the Watergate Hotel, on the banks of the Potomac, has reopened following a $125 million overhaul. The renovation and upgrade covered all of the hotel’s 336 rooms, half of which come with balconies. The rooms now offer luxury bedding, marble bathrooms, luxury amenities, 24-hour room service and modern guest technology. The Watergate has added a rooftop lounge called Top of the Gate; an indoor-outdoor restaurant called Kingbird, and a lobby lounge called The Next Whiskey Bar. There’s also a 12,000 square foot spa. Rates start at $425.

Atlanta’s Marriott Marquis downtown just had a big makeover. (Image: Marriott)

Marriott’s flagship hotel in downtown Atlanta, the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, has finished a $78 million upgrade that included renovations of all 1,663 rooms and suites. All rooms got new multi-purpose work surfaces as well as smart TVs with streaming services like Hulu and Netflix. King rooms received new baths with walk-in showers, and the 94 suites got new hardwood designs with area rugs. The lounge for guests in concierge level accommodations received new Wi-Fi, plugs for personal electronic devices and laptops, and upgraded food and beverage selections. The hotel also added two floors of Marriott’s new “Stay Well” rooms with innovations like air purification, circadian lighting, allergen-free sanitation processes, vitamin C shower infusers and aromatherapy. There’s also a redesigned Great Room for working and/or socializing. Marriott Rewards advance purchase rates start as low as $124.

The pool at the Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki in Honolulu. (Image: Hilton)

The pool at the Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. (Image: Hilton)

Hilton HHonors members who want to go to Hawaii have a lot more rooms available. Hilton just cut the ribbon on a new Hilton Garden Inn in Honolulu, and it’s the largest hotel in the Garden Inn brand, with 623 rooms. The new Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach is actually two blocks from that iconic strand, and across the street from the International Market Place. Formerly the Ohana Waikiki West, the property went through a $115 million overhaul; all 623 rooms and suites now have the brand’s signature bedding, 48-inch HDTVs with premium channels, microwaves, mini-fridges and Keurig coffee makers, and most have walk-out lanais. There’s a roof top pool and bar, fitness center, and a grab-and-go market. It’s in HHonors Reward Category 7, and rates start at $189.

The Ames Boston Hotel in now a Hilton affiliate. (Image: Hilton)

In Boston, meanwhile, Hilton has added a new affiliate to its Curio Collection, which means it’s part of HHonors and the Hilton reservations system. That property is the Ames Boston Hotel, which joins the group this month. Originally built in 1893, the Ames Building at 1 Court Street is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was converted into a 114-room luxury boutique hotel in 2007. Rates start at around $350.

An historic building in downtown Cleveland is now the Drury Plaza Hotel. (Image: Drury Hotels)

Drury Hotels has added its first location in Cleveland with the opening of the Drury Plaza Cleveland Downtown. Located on East 6^th Street near FirstEnergy Stadium and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the hotel was developed in the city’s old Board of Education Building, built in 1931, preserving many of its original architectural features. Its 189 guest rooms offer 49 different layouts, and it has almost 4,000 square feet of meeting space. Guest amenities include free hot breakfast, afternoon and evening sodas and popcorn, evening beer and wine receptions, 24-hour fitness and business centers, and an indoor pool and whirlpool. Rates start at $109.

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Stunning changes at iconic NYC hotel

June 27, 2016

A Chinese firm that bought the Waldorf-Astoria is reportedly planning to convert much of the hotel to condos. (Image: Waldorf-Astoria)

In 2005, New York’s legendary Plaza Hotel closed down for a three-year renovation that left it with just 130 hotel rooms, and the rest of its space converted into condo hotel units and luxury condo apartments. And now the same thing might be happening to another iconic Manhattan property, the Waldorf-Astoria.

According to the Wall Street Journal (paywall), the new Chinese owner of the once-tony-now-shabby midtown hotel – Anbang Insurance, which lost out to Marriott in an unsuccessful takeover effort for Starwood Hotels – plans to shut the property down next spring and convert most of its space into apartments.

In recent years, the grand dame has fallen from grace with many business travelers– on TripAdvisor it now ranks #281 out of #475 New York City hotels. Nonetheless, a cursory check of rates for summer and fall find it still fetching close to $500 per night.

Citing “people familiar with the matter,” the newspaper reported that Anbang will repurpose up to 1,100 of the Waldorf’s 1,413 rooms into luxury condominiums to be sold to private owners. That would leave the property with 300 to 500 hotel rooms that would be upgraded to luxury standards. Hilton would continue to manage the hotel portion after the conversion, the article said.

Room decor at the Waldorf is nice, but dated (Photo: Waldorf-Astoria)

There was no estimate as to how long the renovation project – expected to cost more than $1 billion — would keep the hotel, which spans a full city block in Manhattan, closed.

The Waldorf had long been used as a New York base for visiting U.S. presidents and for the country’s United Nations delegation, but the U.S. government had problems with continued use of the property after Anbang bought it, citing security concerns.

Have you ever stayed at the Waldorf? For me, the hotel conjures up memories of my very first trip to NYC with my parents at the tender age of 13. Even when I’m not staying there, I still like to duck into its popular, dark and clubby Sir Harry’s lobby bar for a manhattan and nibblies!

What do you think of when you hear about The Waldorf-Astoria?

–Chris McGinnis

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New hotels: Seattle, Cleveland, New York, Miami

June 13, 2016

Stunning Puget Sound views from the new Thompson Seattle hotel (Photo: Commune Hotels)

In U.S. lodging news, the upscale Thompson Hotels group comes to the Pacific Northwest; Hilton opens a high-rise location in the heart of Cleveland; Holiday Inn cuts the ribbon on a new location in Brooklyn; and Starwood converts a Miami property into a W.

Views of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains are among the highlights of the newly opened Thompson Seattle , a 12-story luxury boutique hotel located next to the city’s popular Pike Place Market. With an all-glass exterior and 158 rooms (including eight corner studios and two suites), the newly-built Thompson has a décor that features exposed steel and concrete, along with “an eclectic blend of modern and vintage furniture and fixtures of reclaimed woods.” Guest rooms have 400-thread-count bed linens, free Wi-Fi, 42-inch smart TVs and marble bathrooms with rain showers. The hotel has 5,000 square feet of meeting space and a signature restaurant specializing in locally sourced ingredients from the Pacific Northwest, as well as a rooftop bar and lounge with expansive city views. Rates start at $419, but the hotel has an opening special of 30 percent off best available rates for 2016 bookings made by June 30.

The new Hilton Cleveland Downtown overlooks Lake Erie. (Image: Hilton)

Hilton Hotels has cut the ribbon on a big new property in downtown Cleveland. The 600-room Hilton Cleveland Downtown, at 100 Lakeside Avenue East, is connected to the city’s Huntington Convention Center and adjacent to the Global Center for Health Innovation; it overlooks Lake Erie and FirstEnergy Stadium. The 32-story convention hotel has more than 50,000 square feet of function space, including a 20,000 square foot grand ballroom. The hotel has an indoor pool and fitness center on the sixth floor, a business center, in-room Wi-Fi, and a signature restaurant on three levels called The Burnham. There’s also a luxury bar on the 32^nd floor; a “communal workspace” called Eliot’s Bar; and a grab-and-go eatery called The Noshery. HHonors discount rates start at $280.

The former Viceroy Hotel in Miami is now one of Starwood's W properties. (Image: Starwood)

The former Viceroy Hotel in downtown Miami is now one of Starwood’s W properties. (Image: Starwood)

Starwood has added its third W property in Florida: The company has taken over the former Viceroy Miami and rebranded it as the W Miami – although it doesn’t yet have all the regular W touches. “W Miami will undergo a renovation to create the W brand’s signature W Living Room on the hotel’s 15^th floor overlooking Biscayne Bay,” Starwood said, and a cocktail lounge and WET Deck will be added on the 50^th floor. The hotel is on Brickell Avenue in downtown Miami, right across the street from the Brickell City Centre development of upscale restaurant and retail locations. The new W has 148 rooms and suites as well as 38 residential units serviced by the hotel. Other Florida W locations are in South Beach and Ft. Lauderdale. Rates start at $182.

The lobby of the new Holiday Inn-Brooklyn Downtown. (Image: Holiday Inn)

In New York City, the borough of Brooklyn is a hot growth area these days, with new attractions and major gentrification going on. And InterContinental Hotels Group has just opened a newly-built Holiday Inn there. The 245-room Holiday Inn-Brooklyn Downtown is on Schermerhorn Street, not far from the Barclay Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Metro Tech Center. InterContinental plans to open a new EVEN Hotel Brooklyn right next door later this year. The 14-story Holiday Inn has a business center, 24-hour fitness room plus heated indoor pool/hot tub/sauna, and 2,500 square feet of meeting space. Reflecting Brooklyn’s multicultural nature, the hotel’s all-day restaurant is called Brasserie Seoul, with Korean and French-inspired cuisine. Rates start at $201.

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New hotels: Chicago, New York, Baltimore, Washington D.C.

May 28, 2016

The new LondonHouse in Chicago is at N. Michigan Ave. and Wacker. (Image: LondonHouse)

In news of hotel openings, a new Chicago property has a prime downtown location and an affiliation with Hilton; a big Spanish lodging group makes its U.S. debut in New York City; Radisson comes to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor; and there’s a new Homewood Suites at Washington D.C.’s convention center.

Right at the corner of North Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive – overlooking the Chicago River – is the newly opened LondonHouse Chicago, a 452-room “luxury lifestyle” property that incorporates the 93-year-old London Guarantee Building. The new independent hotel is a member of Hilton’s Curio Collection, and Hilton HHonors is offering members a 5,000-poont bonus when they stay at the hotel for three days or more. The hotel has a 24-hour fitness center, lobby bar, free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa, and a tri-level rooftop dining venue and cocktail lounge called LH. Guest rooms have 55-inch TVs with media streaming technology from Google Chromecast; they also feature mini-fridges, linen bedding and marble bathrooms. Rates start at $207.

Iberostar’s first U.S. location is at 70 Park Ave. in New York. (Image: Iberostar)

Spain’s Iberostar Hotels & Resorts has set a June 15 opening for a 205-room, four-star boutique Iberostar hotel in New York City, its first venture in the U.S. Located at 70 Park Avenue (at 38^th Street), it’s a short walk from Grand Central Station. The property was formerly a Kimpton hotel called 70 Park Avenue. We tried to check rates for the new property, but at this writing it wasn’t yet available in Iberostar’s reservations system. Iberostar said it also plans to open a hotel in Miami’s South Beach district at the end of this year.

A room at the Radisson Baltimore Downtown-Inner Harbor. (Image: Radisson)

Radisson has cut the ribbon on the 323-room Radisson Hotel Baltimore Downtown-Inner Harbor, at 101 West Fayette Street, half a mile from the Inner Harbor. It offers downtown Baltimore’s only outdoor rooftop pool, free Wi-Fi, a business center and 24-hour fitness center. Accommodations include Carlson Business Class rooms that come with upgraded amenities and free breakfast. Food and drink is available at the hotel’s Balto Tavern & Tap, which also offers a grab-and-go menu. Rates range from $95 to $249.

Hilton;’s new Homewood Suites in Washington D.C. is near the convention center. (Image: Hilton)

Hilton has opened a 160-unit, all-suite Homewood Suites property near the Washington D.C. Convention Center, at 465 New York Avenue NW. It has studio and one-bedroom guest accommodations that have separate living and sleeping areas as well as fully equipped kitchens. Guests get free hot breakfasts and free Wi-Fi along with use of the hotel’s fitness center. The property hosts an “evening social:” for guests on weeknights. Advance purchase rates start as low as $140.

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Hilton’s big summer sale

May 16, 2016

The new Hilton at the convention center in West Palm Beach. (Image: Hilton)

Hilton has come out with a new summer sale that has a two-tier discount structure, with better sale prices for HHonors members than for non-members.

Called the Hilton World Sale, the promotion’s specifics vary slightly by destination region, and discount levels may vary by hotel brand. All regions require that bookings be made directly with Hilton. And according to the terms and conditions, sale rates require full prepayment at the time of booking, with no changes, cancellations or refunds.

For hotels in North and South America, the discounts are 20 percent off best available rates for non-HHonors members and 25 percent off for members. It applies for Thursday through Sunday stays May 17-September 6, with a September 2 booking deadline.

The recently renovated Hilton Los Angeles Universal City (Image: Hilton)

For hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the discount levels are 25 and 30 percent respectively for stays now through October 9, with a September 4 booking deadline. For the Asia Pacific region (except China), discounts are 20 and 25 percent for stays through December 31, with a booking deadline of September 5. And for China, discounts are up to 30 percent for bookings made by May 31, or 25 percent for bookings made by August 23; sale rates apply for stays through the end of the year.

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Hotels: Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Washington, Miami, New Orleans

May 16, 2016

The Clement Palo Alto brings a new level of luxury to Silicon Valley. (Image: The Clement)

In hotel news, there’s a new luxury property in Silicon Valley; San Francisco’s largest hotel gets a makeover; Kimpton adds a location in the nation’s capital; one of East Asia’s leading hotel companies is making its U.S. debut in Miami; and Marriott opens a Moxy in New Orleans.

How can a city of 66,000 support a hotel with room rates starting at $700 a night? It helps when that city is in the heart of Silicon Valley’s tech giants and venture capital companies. Thus Palo Alto, California is the home of a new hotel called The Clement Palo Alto, which describes itself as “one of the most innovative, personalized and unique luxury hotels in the country.” It has 23 luxury one-bedroom suites, each 650 square feet, and its rates are seriously all-inclusive: They include three meals a day plus snacks; alcoholic beverages; in-room dining; valet service; Internet; gratuities; a personal concierge; a 24-hour guest pantry, and more. (Sounds like staying at the Clement is sorta like working for a unicorn!) The Clement is close to Stanford University and downtown Palo Alto.

The new lobby bar at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square. (Image: Hilton)

Visitors to the Hilton San Francisco Union Square – the largest hotel in the Bay Area – will see some changes this spring. The property just finished a $25 million renovation that upgraded guest accommodations and meeting rooms, provided an overhaul of its huge lobby area including a new lobby bar, and gave it a new grab-and-go food area called Herb N’ Kitchen with a variety of fresh edibles and set meals as well as a full-service coffee bar. Rates start around $230 a night. Plus, all rooms can now be opened with guest mobile phones utilizing the Hilton Honors app.

A guest room at the Kimpton Mason & Rook in Washington D.C. (Image: Kimpton)

Kimpton Hotels has opened a new property in Washington D.C. The 178-room (including 18 suites) Kimpton Mason & Rook Hotel is at 1430 Rhode Island Ave. NW near the city’s trendy 14^th Street Corridor. The hotel features what it calls “a culinary-focused cocktail bar” (actually a bar/restaurant) called Radiator (because the area used to have a lot of auto repair shops), and it offers a raft of Kimpton-style guest services like free morning coffee, a nightly wine hour, yoga mats and bicycles. Rates start at $159.

A corner room with a view at Swire’s new EAST, Miami. (Image: Swire Properties)

Swire Properties, which operates renowned hotels in Asia including The Upper House in Hong Kong and The Opposite House in Beijing, has set a May 31 opening for its first U.S. hotel, called EAST, Miami. The 352-room property will serve as the anchor hotel for Swire’s $1 billion mixed-use development in the city’s Brickell district. Rooms and suites range from 300 to 1,800 square feet, offering floor-to-ceiling windows with skyline or bay views and free Wi-Fi. It has two signature restaurants including the Quinto La Huella, with Latin American cuisine; and a rooftop (40^th floor) space called Sugar, serving tapas and cocktails. There’s also a lobby café and bar, a poolside bar, and 20,000 square feet of meeting space. Rates start at $195.

The lobby area at Marriott’s new Moxy in New Orleans. (Image: Marriott)

The new Marriott brand called Moxy – aimed at “today’s next-generation traveler” – has opened a location in New Orleans, on O’Keefe Avenue near the French Quarter. The 108-room Moxy New Orleans provides mobile check-in and –out, keyless room entry, motion sensor lighting, in-room Internet TVs with Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, and Pandora; fast free Wi-Fi, and lots of power and USB plugs. There’s a 24/7 self-serve food and beverage outlet as well as communal areas with work and game spaces. Rates start at $124. More Moxys are coming to New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago and Nashville.

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Hilton HHonors new double point offer & IHG, SPG promos

April 28, 2016

Outdoor terrace at the The Hilton New York Fashion District. (Image: Hilton)

The newest seasonal promotion from Hilton HHonors offers double points for all stays this spring and summer.

Called the HHonors Unlimited Bonus Promotion, it offers members who register twice the usual points on all stays from May 1 through August 31.

All Hilton family properties are participating, and there is no maximum on the number of points that can be earned. The offer applies from the first stay during the promotional period, and it does not require a minimum number of nights in a stay, nor does it have day-of-week restrictions.

HHonors members can register here.

Also…

IHG Rewards members looking to unload some points at a discount should check out the new Rewards Club PointBreaks list posted this week for discounted bookings and stays through July 31, 2016 (subject to availability). Each Reward Night at participating hotels (more than 100) will be only 5,000 IHG Rewards Club points during the above mentioned dates.

Don’t miss this from Starwood starting next week: Register May 3 through July 17, 2016, for SPG‘s Triple Up promo to earn thousands of bonus points on stays of two or more nights from May 9 through July 31, 2016. Details here.

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Is this Hilton room a dream or nightmare?

March 29, 2016

“Buenas tardes, Mr. McGinnis. We sorry to inform you that the hotel is completely sold out. However, we do have one room available. It’s our new Barbie room. Would that be okay?”

How would you handle that situation? It’s the first thing that went through my head when we received this release from Hilton today about a special hotel room they’ve created in Panama City.

It would be a nightmare for me, but I imagine that there are some readers out there who’d love to spend the night in this shockingly pink Barbie Room. This is the second iteration of the Barbie Room– the first was installed at a Hilton in Buenos Aires in 2014. And it seems to be part of a trend to insert fantasy brands into the business travel experience, such as Eva Air’s Hello Kitty planes and ANA’s Star Wars themed jets.

Thoughts?

Here’s the release. Scroll down for the rest of the photos.

The Hilton Panama and Mattel have teamed up to create a new Barbie Room to the latest generation of Barbie admirers in Panama City, Panama. Available March 8 through August 15, 2016, the room gives fans a chance to enjoy the magic of the toy world’s fashion icon.

Bringing glamour, fun and fantasy to life with all the elements of a Barbie-themed paradise, the Barbie Room offers a connecting deluxe room for parents, grandparents or family members. Guests will be welcomed to the hotel with an oversized display from the most famous doll in the world for the first of many photographs.

Available for a period of five months, the room took four weeks to complete from design concept to unveiling. It features exclusive Barbie items not found anywhere else and welcomes guests to a Barbie experience like no other with décor, bedding, movies, toys, dolls, special amenities,games, furniture, pillows, toiletries, costumes, a changing room and a runway where the fashion icon’s fans can model.

“Since opening, Hilton Panama has made every effort to offer innovative products and services our guests will appreciate and this latest initiative reinforces our commitment,” said Andres Korngold, director of business development, Hilton Panama. “We recognize the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between work and home and the Barbie Room is an excellent way to help our business, and frequent travelers, enjoy an unforgettable experience with their families.”

Rates for the Barbie room run at a premium– starting at about $200 per night. You can even book the Barbie Room by redeeming Hilton HHonors points – it’s a category 5 hotel, with redemptions from 21,000 to 35,000 per night.

Would you book the Barbie room? Why or why not? Please leave your comments below.

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Hotel news: New Hyatt brand, Marriott merger, Hilton cancellations, Vegas fees

March 2, 2016

The Driskill in Austin is a member of Hyatt's new Unbound Collection. (Image: Hyatt/Driskill)

The historic Driskill Hotel in Austin is a member of Hyatt’s new Unbound Collection. (Image: Hyatt/Driskill)

In hotel news this week, Hyatt creates a new brand for independent hotels; Marriott clears a hurdle in its planned merger with Starwood; what Hilton learned from its $50 cancellation fee experiment; and several Las Vegas properties boost their “resort fees.”

Marriott has its Autograph Collection, Hilton has its Curio Collection, Starwood has its Tribute Portfolio, and now Hyatt has created its own similar brand of affiliated but independent hotels that will participate in the Hyatt reservations system and loyalty program. It’s called The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. The company said the new group will feature “upper-upscale and luxury properties,” both existing and new, and will include “historic urban gems, contemporary trend-setters, boutique hotels, resorts, and more.” The first properties to join The Unbound Collection are The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Hotel du Louvre in Paris, the Carmelo Resort in Carmelo, Uruguay; and the Coco Palms Resort in Kauai.

The planned acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts by Marriott International got a boost this week when the deal’s antitrust waiting period expired with no action from the federal government. “The expiration of the waiting period means the parties have cleared the premerger antitrust review in the United States, satisfying one of the closing conditions of the pending combination transactions,” Marriott said in a statement. The company noted that the waiting period in Canada also passed without any action from that government, but it noted that it is still working with competition authorities in other countries to secure their approvals. Marriott and Starwood stockholders are expected to vote on the merger March 28.

Last fall, Hilton Hotels started a test at 20 hotels, charging customers $50 if they canceled their reservation at any time after making it, unless it was within 24 hours of arrival, in which case a one night’s room charge applied (HHonors members were exempt from the fee test). That test is over, and Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta said in a call with analysts that guests who had to pay the fee “hated it.” But he said that was just the first step in Hilton’s ongoing plans to move ahead with new pricing or fee models in which customers will incur an added cost if they want the flexibility to cancel at any time – just as airline customers pay more for a fully refundable ticket. Part of the reason hotel operators want to tighten up cancellation policies is the growth of websites that allow customers to search for better prices than the one booked, then cancel and rebook at the lower rate.

Guest fees are rising at Caesars Palace and some other Las Vegas hotels. (Image: Jim Glab)

Las Vegas, one of the nation’s top convention venues and the home of the largest and most widespread mandatory “resort fees” in the hotel business, is taking things up a notch. According to the Los Angeles Times, five big Caesars Entertainment hotels on the Strip are raising their resort fees by 10 percent, from $29 to $32 a day. They are Caesars Palace, Nobu, the Cromwell, Paris, and Planet Hollywood. Although the fees are separate from room rates, guests must pay them even if they don’t use the services they are intended to cover, like Wi-Fi, local phone calls and use of the fitness center. The newspaper noted that the higher resort fees come just a few weeks after MGM Resorts in Las Vegas said it plans to start charging guests a fee for parking, whether they self-park or use valets.

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New hotels: Minneapolis, New York, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Seattle

March 1, 2016

A standard king guest room at the new Hyatt Regency near Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. (Image: Hyatt)

The latest U.S. hotel openings include a Hyatt Regency near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, a New York City debut for a leading European chain, an all-suite property in downtown Pittsburgh, a Marriott affiliate in the heart of San Diego, and a Starwood location at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

A few months ago, we reported on the opening of a new JW Marriott Hotel in Bloomington, Minn., near Mall of America and Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. And now there’s a new Hyatt there as well. The Hyatt Regency Bloomington-Minneapolis is in the Bloomington Central Station mixed-use development just east of the mega-mall and just south of the airport. It’s along the Blue Line light rail, two stops from MSP. It has 289 guest rooms and 14 suites, all equipped with Hyatt Grand Beds, 55-inch HDTVs with plug-and-play capabilities for personal devices, and free Wi-Fi. The hotel offers a Regency Club Lounge with free breakfast; an indoor pool; and a fitness center. The restaurant has locally-sourced ingredients, and there’s also a market with grab-and-go food items. Rates start at $239.

Melia International’s INNSIDE New York NoMad on West 27th Street. (Image: Melia)

European hotel giant Melia International is slated to cut the ribbon on its first New York City property in March – the 313-room INNSIDE New York NoMad, at 132 W, 27^th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenue. Rooms come with floor-to-ceiling windows and are equipped with Nespresso machines, 42-inch TVs with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, and complimentary minibars. Its Impero Caffe restaurant will serve bistro-style Italian cuisine both inside and on an outdoor garden terrace. Conference rooms can handle meetings of up to 95 persons. Rates start at $249.

The Embassy Suites in downtown Pittsburgh has plenty of living space. (Image: Embassy Suites)

Pittsburgh’s 106-year-old Henry W. Oliver Building, in the heart of downtown at 535 Smithfield Street, now has a new Embassy Suites by Hilton occupying its top 11 floors. Claiming to be the only full-service all-suite hotel in downtown Pittsburgh, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Pittsburgh Downtown has 225 two-room units equipped with a wet bar, microwave, mini-fridge and two TVs. The hotel offers free made-to-order breakfast and a free two-hour evening reception with drinks and snacks, as well as a 24/7 fitness facility and indoor pool. Check-in is in the hotel’s 25^th-floor Sky Lobby, and the property has a full-service restaurant called Elevation with American comfort food. Rates start at $169.

Marriott’s new Residence Inn in downtown San Diego’s Bayfront district. (Image: Marriott)

Another new all-suite property – this one in San Diego – is Marriott’s Residence Inn San Diego Downtown/Bayfront, at 900 Bayfront Court. It’s close to the water just west of the city’s famous Gaslamp District, around the corner from both the Amtrak station and the Coronado Ferry, and just minutes from the airport. The hotel has 147 studio, one-, and two-bedroom suites, all equipped with spacious work areas, free high-speed Wi-Fi and full kitchens, and guests can get free hot breakfasts. Rates start at $249.

This new Four Points by Sheraton is five miles south of Sea-Tac. (Image: Starwood)

Just off Interstate 5 five miles south of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in suburban Des Moines, Wash., is the newly opened Four Points by Sheraton Seattle Airport South; it’s also convenient to Boeing’s Renton plant, Amazon’s HQ, and the Link light rail station into downtown Seattle. Its 225 rooms include some two-story loft suites with views of Puget Sound. Northwestern cuisine is served up at the hotel’s Olympus Grille, and the lounge offers local beers and BBQ-style appetizers. There’s an outdoor pool, 24/7 fitness center, business center, and free Wi-Fi throughout. Rates start at $131.

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Hilton’s new discounts for HHonors members only

February 16, 2016

The Hilton at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. (Image: Hilton)

Hilton Worldwide is trying to sweeten the pot for its HHonors loyalty members – and to steer them away from third-party online booking sites – by unveiling a new exclusive discount program for them when they book directly with Hilton.

The company said the room rate discount “that can’t be found anywhere else” will be available at more than 4,500 Hilton-branded hotels worldwide for HHonors members who book through Hilton’s websites, its HHonors mobile app, or through “preferred corporate travel partners and approved travel agents.”

Hilton is kicking off a big new marketing campaign to get the word about the discount out to its loyal customers, and to remind them of the other benefits of direct booking for HHonors members – i.e., they earn HHonors points that they wouldn’t get for third-party bookings, and they also get free Wi-Fi, digital check-in and room selection, and a Digital Key to open their guest room door via the HHonors mobile app.

The theme of the new campaign is “Stop Clicking Around.”

A Hilton spokesperson tells TravelSkills that the HHonors discount will be 3 percent for Sunday through Thursday stays and 10 percent for Fridays and Saturdays on direct bookings made 15 days or more in advance. The discount is 2 percent for direct bookings made less than 15 days in advance. The discounts apply across all Hilton brands.

“There is a huge misconception that third parties always offer lower prices for our hotel rooms, which is simply not true,” said Mark Weinstein, Hilton Worldwide’s head of Customer Engagement, Loyalty and Partnerships. Hilton says the new loyalty discount will give HHonors members the lowest rate available anywhere online.

He said Hilton estimates that guests who booked through third-party sites in 2015 left 57 billion HHonors points uncollected, worth 1.6 million free nights.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Boeing 747 nearing its end? + “Targeted” for an upgrade? + 5 newest biz class hotels in New York + TSA PreCheck is exploding + Bargain hunters travel guide for 2016

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New hotels: Boston, New York, West Palm Beach, Cleveland, Montreal

February 10, 2016

Starwood’s new Aloft is across from Boston’s convention center. (Image: Aloft Hotels)

New hotel openings in North America include a pair of Starwood brands at Boston’s convention center; a Four Points by Sheraton in New York’s financial district; a Hilton convention hotel in West Palm Beach, Florida; the conversion of an historic Cleveland building into a Kimpton; and a new Renaissance from Marriott in downtown Montreal.

The living area in a unit at Boston’s new Element Hotel. (Image: Element Hotels)

Starwood has cut the ribbon on a pair of new hotels in Boston’s Seaport District, on D Street just across from the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. The dual-branded project includes the 330-room Aloft Boston Seaport and the 180-room Element Boston Seaport. In addition to 10,000 square feet of meeting space and free Wi-Fi hotel-wide, the Aloft offers the usual features of that brand, like a Re:fuel grab-and-go market, a 24-hour fitness center, the signature W XYZ Bar and a swimming pool. The new Element has studio-style guest accommodations with full kitchens, 1,000 square feet of meeting space, an indoor salt-water pool and a fitness center. The two hotels, less than three miles from the airport, are separated by a new driveway off D Street that provides access to the front entrances of both properties. Rates start at $235 at the Aloft and $313 at the Element.

5 new business class hotels in Boston

A guest room in the new Four Points by Sheraton in lower Manhattan. (Image: Four Points by Sheraton)

The newest hotel in New York City’s Financial District is Starwood’s Four Points by Sheraton New York Downtown, located at 6 Platt Street – a short walk from the New York Stock Exchange. The 261-room Four Points offers free Wi-Fi, 2,000 square feet of meeting space, a 24-hour fitness center, a business center, a full-service restaurant called the Ketch Brewhouse, and a rooftop lounge serving up local beers and barbecue. Nightly Rates start at $260.

The new Hilton at the convention center in West Palm Beach. (Image: Hilton)

Florida’s Palm Beach County Convention Center has a newly opened hotel connected to it by an enclosed walkway: The Hilton West Palm Beach. It’s a 400-room (and 43 suites), 12-story convention hotel at 600 Okeechobee Boulevard with more than 24,000 square feet of function space, including a 5,800 square foot ballroom. Rates start at $199. The new Hilton has “an in-house panel of experts” who put together team-building exercises and games for corporate groups. Its restaurant, called Manor, serves up farm-to-table American cuisine under Matthew Byrne, owner of the Palm Beach restaurant called Kitchen and former chef for Tiger Woods. It also has a lobby bar and a marketplace with locally sourced food and gifts.

Cleveland’s historic Schofield Building is now a Kimpton hotel. (Image: Kimpton)

The historic Schofield Building in downtown Cleveland at 2000 East Ninth Street will get a new life next month when Kimpton Hotels opens it as The Schofield Hotel. Kimpton kept the building’s original terra cotta façade, but spent $50 million converting the inside into 122 hotel rooms and 52 apartments. The rooms are decorated with reminders of Cleveland’s industrial history, and Karma Rewards members get free Wi-Fi. In April, the hotel will open a 120-seat restaurant and bar called Parker’s Downtown. Kimpton’s Schofield Hotel will offer guests free use of bicycles and yoga mats as well as a nightly wine hour, occasional craft beer nights and “a loaner guitar program.” Rates start at $150 (although when we checked the availability calendar, there wasn’t any until May).

The lobby of the Renaissance Montreal has an urban contemporary theme. (Image: Marriott)

In the heart of downtown Montreal, at the corner of Robert-Bourassa Boulevard and Cathcart Street, Marriott has cut the ribbon on the new Renaissance Montreal. The 142-room Renaissance has a Pan-Asian restaurant called East, as well as a 12^th-floor rooftop terrace (covered and heated) with a bar, a bistro kitchen, and a plunge pool. The lobby is decorated y a local street artist, and serves up live DJ music and cocktails. The new Renaissance has a business center, a fitness center, high-speed Wi-Fi and a Nespresso machine in every room. Introductory rates start at $199 (Canadian) through April 23.

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Hilton unveils a new brand

January 26, 2016

Not your grandpa’s Hilton: Part of the public area in a Tru by Hilton hotel. (Image: Hilton)

Several major hotel companies have come out with new brands in recent years that target the growing market of millennials and their high-tech, social media lifestyles, like Starwood’s Aloft, Marriott’s AC Hotels, InterContinental Hotels Group’s EVEN Hotels and Best Western’s Vib. And now Hilton is doing the same with a new brand called Tru by Hilton.

Hilton said the brand will fill what it calls “a massive void” in the midscale lodging category in the U.S. and Canada. (In the amorphous world of hotel branding, “midscale” falls in between “economy” and “upper midscale;” in any case, Hilton’s announcement of Tru emphasizes terms like “value” and “affordability”.)

The brand’s new website (www.trubyhilton.com) says Tru properties will appeal to leisure and business guests of all generations as long as they have “a Millennial mindset,” which Hilton defines as “a youthful energy and a zest for life.”

(Image: Hilton)

All the Tru by Hilton properties will be newly-built (no conversions of existing hotels), and all will be franchised. The company says it already has signed contracts for 102 new Tru hotels, with 30 more in the approval pipeline. Locations mentioned include Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Houston, Denver, Nashville and Portland.

The Tru properties will all include guest rooms with all-white platform beds, 55-inch TVs, eight-foot-wide windows, lots of power outlets and spacious bathrooms, Hilton said. The lobby area (designated “The Hive”) will have four zones, for “lounging, working, eating or playing.” (The Play Zone will offer table games and a big TV with DIRECTV service and tiered seating.)

Just sayin’: Tru looks a LOT like the EVEN hotel we just reviewed in NYC

The Command Center (read: front desk area) serves up a “social media wall with real-time content to foster engagement among guests” and a 24/7 market with snacks, single-serving wine and beer, and “healthy light meal options.”

Of course there will be a fitness center, along with free Wi-Fi as well as mobile check-in, room selection and Digital Key (available via the HHonors app). The first one is expected to open by year’s end.

Readers: Have you stayed in any of the new hotel brands designed for Millennials? (Would you?) If so, what did you think?

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Don’t miss these 4 key hotel bonuses

January 20, 2016

JW Marriott & Ritz-Carlton tower over the LA Live complex in downtown Los Angeles (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Hotel programs like Marriott Rewards rolling out new winter promos (Photo of LA Live, where Marriott has 4 big hotels by Chris McGinnis)

The dip in travel demand for the winter season compounded by jitters in the stock market means more lucrative winter promotions from hotel chains. So be sure to take advantage of the following:

This week Marriott kicked off its popular mega-bonus program which individually tailors your winter bonus based on your Marriott Rewards activity. First off, you have to register for the program, and stay at participating properties between Feb 1 and May 15. You’ll get one free night after two stays at hotel categories 1-5. Then you get to “unlock your new bonus points offer” which will be emailed to you. DETAILS.

Starwood got an early start by kicking off its SPG Take Two promo back in December. But I guess it did not stir up enough interest because it recently sweetened the pot of this promotion. Those who register earn double Starpoints on stays of two or more nights at any of its 1,200+ properties worldwide– good for stays January 11 through April 30. Plus, there’s an opportunity to get 250 more points in certain “popular destinations.” This week Starwood added a bigger bonus geared toward heavy users: Earn an additional 2,500 points for 15-24 nights, or a tidy 7,500 for 25 nights or more by April 30. DETAILS

The InterContinental Hotel Group IHG Rewards Club bonus is called Accelerate 2016 and it’s for stays between January 1 and April 30. Like Marriott, this promo is targeted and your bonus is based on your IHG activity. The program is tiered- for example, stay just once during January and you’ll earn 5,000 points. Stay again after January and some will get a 1,000 point bump…and some who stay five times, will get another 5,000 points. There the potential to earn as many as 40,000-60,000 extra points- depending on your IHG activity. DETAILS

Hilton HHonors Double Your Points promo is more basic: It is offering double program points or airline miles (60 airlines) for stays between January 1 and April 30. When registering, you are required to choose either double points or double miles for the duration of the promotion. DETAILS.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United packages Economy Plus with amenities + Ride-sharing firm goes out of business + Bucket list for air travelers + Useless travel gadgets + ‘Uber of the Skies’ dies

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New hotels: Amsterdam, Dubai, Casablanca, Taipei

January 5, 2016

The new Hilton at Schiphol is in the heart of Amsterdam’s airport. (Image: Hilton)

In overseas hotel developments, there’s a new Hilton in the middle of Amsterdam’s airport; Four Seasons breaks into the Morocco market; Starwood cuts the ribbon on a new luxury property in Dubai; and Taipei adds a pair of new hotels.

The old Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, which opened in 1972 right in the middle of the airport property, has closed down and been replaced by a brand new property right next door. The new one is also called the Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. It has 433 rooms including 12 suites; 96 of them are Executive rooms, with access to an Executive Lounge. And it has 23 meeting rooms, with a ballroom that accommodates up to 640 persons. There’s also a lobby bar, a restaurant called The Bowery, a 24-hour fitness facility, and a spa. Rates start at $235.

Sumptuous guest accommodations at the Four Seasons Casablanca. (Image: Four Seasons)

Four Seasons Hotels recently cut the ribbon on a new property in Casablanca, Morocco. The Four Seasons Casablanca’s oceanside location in the upscale Anfa neighborhood is 10 minutes from the city center and its financial district. The hotel has 186 rooms, 12,400 square feet of flexible meeting space, a French brasserie restaurant called Bleu, a spa and a 1,600 square foot pool. Rates start at $319.

Starwood’s new St. Regis Dubai is modeled after the New York St. Regis. (Image: Starwood)

Starwood’s newest property in the Middle East is The St. Regis Dubai, in the “urban resort” development called Al Habtoor City on Sheikh Zayed Road. The St. Regis will eventually be joined by a W and a Westin in the same location. The architecture and interiors of the 234-room (with 54 suites, including the two-story, thee-bedroom Royal Suite) St. Regis are a tribute to the St. Regis in New York. Dining options include a steakhouse, a brasserie and a cafe. The hotel also has two bars, a spa, 24-houir fitness facility and a pair of rooftop pools. Nightly rates begin at $416.

The lobby of the new Courtyard by Marriott in Taipei. (Image: Marriott)

There’s a new Courtyard by Marriott in Taipei, Taiwan: The 465-room property occupies the seventh through 30th floors of a skyscraper above the CityLink Shopping Mall, the Nangang metro station and Taiwan High-Speed Rail station. Rooms start at 36 square meters, and the hotel offers an all-day dining restaurant with international cuisine, a Cantonese restaurant, a tea/cocktail lounge and a fitness center. Rates start at $140.

The distinctive profile of Starwood’s new Aloft in Taipei. (Image; Starwood)

Another newly opened hotel in Taipei is Starwood’s Aloft Taipei Zhongshan, the first Aloft in Taiwan. Ten minutes from Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA), it’s in the city’s northeast downtown area, close to the Zhongshan Elementary School metro station. The new 88-room Aloft offers SPG Keyless room entry, and rooms come with free Wi-Fi and 42-inch LCD TVs with plug and play connectivity. The Aloft also offers its signature WXYZ bar, and Re:Fuel grab-and-go market. Introductory rates start at $163 including breakfast.

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Scheduled flights to Cuba + Uber at San Jose + New Year’s Eve in NYC + HHonors double points

December 20, 2015

Here are some newsy nuggets from other sources that we missed on TravelSkills this week:

Scheduled airline service to Havana could start in 2016. (Image: y.becart/Flickr)

New pact means scheduled air service to Cuba likely to start in 2016.

Uber can now pick up passengers at Mineta San Jose Airport

New York City hotel rates go through the roof for New Year’s Eve.

Hilton HHonors offers double points/miles for stays from January through April.

Facebook Messenger can now be used to sign up for Uber, request rides.

New aviation agreement with Mexico will open more routes.

Design approved for reconstruction of San Diego Airport’s Terminal 1.

Flip through these photos to see how glamorous air travel was 50 years ago.

New app will create a market for passengers to swap seat assignments.

Wild bubble-top design would let passengers get a rooftop view during flights.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: New Oakland-London route + Big hotel acquisition + Uber at Las Vegas McCarran + American’s international Premium Economy service + Healthy eating for travelers

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New hotels in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Dallas, Washington, NYC

December 18, 2015

The Library in San Francisco's new Axiom Motel. (Image: Axiom Hotel)

The Library in San Francisco’s new Axiom Hotel. (Image: Axiom Hotel)

In domestic lodging developments, downtown San Francisco gets a new property; a Philadelphia classic reopens with a new identity and a new chain affiliation; Starwood opens a Westin in the heart of Dallas; there’s a new Hyatt Place in the nation’s capital; and InterContinental Hotels Group cuts the ribbon on another Holiday Inn in Manhattan.

In San Francisco, the former Powell Hotel — across from the cable car turnaround at the base of Powell Street, near the BART station– is being transformed into a new identity as the Axiom Hotel, and a representative tells TravelSkills it’s expected to open its doors to guests in mid-January. The 152-room boutique hotel — now owned by Host Hotels — will have a bar and cafe in the lobby and a Library nearby, and lots of original art work combining historical and high-tech themes. Other amenities include a business center, fitness center, and fiber-optic Wi-Fi throughout. Rooms have RFID locks, 48-inch smart TVs and refrigerators. We found rates starting as low as $199.

Relaxing library/lounge at Philadelphia’s Logan Hotel. (Image: The Logan)

Philadelphia’s Four Seasons Hotel at Logan Square, which closed in June, has gone through a multi-million dollar transformation and reopened this month as The Logan Philadelphia, a member of Hilton’s Curio Collection. (These are independent hotels that participate in Hilton’s reservations system and its HHonors loyalty program.) The hotel’s 391 rooms include 64 suites with separate living and sleeping areas. The Logan has a 24-hour fitness center and business center, a spa, and a heated indoor pool, along with 12,700 square feet of meeting space. There’s even a library with a fireplace and pool table. Rates start at $233.

A king room at the new Westin Dallas Downtown. (Image: Westin)

January 4 is the starting date for reservations at Starwood’s new Westin Dallas Downtown, a 323-room hotel built into the 33-story One Main Place tower. The 326-room Westin will occupy the top 10 floors of the building as well as public space on lower levels, and will have a separate entrance on Elm Street. The rest of the building will be office and retail space. The hotel has a WestinWORKOUT fitness studio (guests can borrow workout clothes), indoor pool, restaurant, bar, coffee shop, and high-speed Internet, as well as 31,000 square feet of meeting space. Rates start at $217.

Spacious standard king accommodations at Washington D.C.’s new Hyatt Place. (Image: Hyatt)

At 400 E Street SW in the nation’s capital, four blocks from the National Mall, is the newly opened Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall. It has 214 rooms with separate sleep and work areas, free Wi-Fi throughout, an outdoor pool, 24-hour gym, free hot breakfast, rooftop bar and 24/7 Gallery Menu & Market with freshly prepared meals and take-out items. Rates start at $169.

Guest room at the new Holiday Inn-Times Square in New York. (Image: Holiday Inns)

It’s actually a few blocks from Times Square at Eighth Avenue and 39th Street, but InterContinental Hotels Group’s newest property in Manhattan is the newly built, 35-story, 271-room Holiday Inn New York City-Times Square. It offers 24-hour business and fitness centers, a flight check-in kiosk, guest room charging stations, and a restaurant and bar (with 49 microbrews on tap!). Rates start at $118.

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Catch up: Status match at Hyatt, Hilton, Best Western + Fare sale + Air India + Air China @SJC

November 29, 2015

Air India 777-200LR. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Air India 777-200LR arrives at SFO this week. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Today (Sunday) is the busiest travel day of Thanksgiving weekend, and although there is a nasty storm blowing through the center of the country, it’s not poised to hit any major airline hubs, so hopefully we’ll have a good end to the holiday weekend. But good luck if you are flying to Minneapolis on Monday.

Air India arrives at San Francisco International the crack of dawn on Dec 2 this week with three weekly nonstops to Delhi. Best part about the new service: the 16-hour flight shaves 2-3 hours off the one-stop flight time on other carriers. Worst part about the new service: Air India’s B777-200LR deployed on the route does not offer a lie-flat business class seat– instead it’s angled lie-flat, which could be a deal killer for a flight that long. Current economy class airfare is just over $1,000 and business class is around $4,000-$5,000 for January roundtrips.

Scroll down for news about hotel elite status match opportunities!

TravelSkills’ 10 most popular posts over the last week (descending order):

1 Huge deals: Big airfare sale – Asia, Hawaii, India, Africa– sales end tomorrow! And stay tuned for possibly more Hawaii deals when Virgin America kicks off new SFO-Maui nonstops on Dec 3.

2 Stop the madness! Another week, another new hotel fee

3 Totally worth it: Paying more pays off during holiday peak

4 Because you asked for it: Air Canada plans big transborder expansion

5 Big bird! World’s largest passenger plane unveiled

6 Lounging around: Lovely new lounges; Seattle, Orlando, Hong Kong

7 You gotta see this: First look: Newest United Club & concourse [photos]

8 Shiny! Brand new hotels: NYC, Denver, Chicago, Minneapolis & more

9 SF-Paris in an hour or so: What’s faster: Hypersonic or supersonic?

10 First look: Westin at Denver International Airport (photos)

Status Match Mania!

The kerfuffle caused by the Marriott-Starwood merger has competing hotel chains licking their chops, hoping to snag the biz of disaffected SPG members– or others. They are doing it via some unusual status matching options you should know about. First, Hyatt will match your status, but you have to do it via Twitter. Here’s Hyatt’s come on, which requires you to DM @HyattConcierge via Twitter, and then email your elite credentials to goldpassport@hyatt.com. (UPDATE from Hyatt: “If you are SPG Platinum, we are offering Diamond status with Hyatt. If you are any other tier with SPG, Hilton, IHG, or Marriott, we will offer a Platinum match.”) Hilton jumped in the game, too, and to get matched status, you have to email them with your current credentials from a competing program. Send it to HHonorMyStatus@hilton.com by January 11 2016 for upgraded status through March 2017. Best Western has long offered to match status with its Status Match, No Catch promotion. Here’s an interesting twist in the status matching game: MSC Cruises will match your hotel program status in its loyalty program, which offers bennies such as priority boarding/disembarkation, welcome cocktails, late check out, a free spa session and dinner for two at one of the ship’s specialty restaurants.

A few newsy nuggets from other sources that we missed on TravelSkills this week:

Report: Air China to fly Shanghai to San Jose starting March 2016

Study identifies the country’s worst traffic bottlenecks.

Airline group: Worldwide passenger numbers will double in 20 years.

American Airlines incorporating airport information into mobile app.

JetBlue begins free Amazon streaming on Fly-Fi equipped planes.

Marriott extends Rewards plan to 100 Protea hotels in Africa.

Air India strikes gold with new SFO-Delhi route

Taxis vs Uber at ATL (NPR)

San Jose gets first legal rideshare service & it’s not Uber

Why are chip card transactions so darn slow?

Fairmont San Francisco sold for $450 million- 100%+ more than 2012 sale

Delta’s unusual (and unusually expensive) new gift card

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Another week, another new hotel fee

November 24, 2015

The Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre Hotel. (Image: Hilton)

Hilton is testing a new, tougher cancellation fee. (Image: Hilton)

Major players in the hotel industry have been following the lead of the airlines in creating new kinds of fees that their customers must pay, above and beyond the nightly room rate. And now Hilton is experimenting with a significant expansion of its existing cancellation fee policy.

It used to be that hotel guests with changing travel plans could cancel their hotel reservation almost up until the time of arrival with no penalty. Earlier this year, Hilton and Marriott created a stir when they started to impose a new fee equal to the cost of one night’s stay if a cancellation was made less than 24 hours before arrival.

And now Hilton has started to market-test a new $50 fee for those who cancel at any time after they make a reservation (unless they wait until less than 24 hours before arrival — then the existing one night’s room rate fee still applies).

Members of Hilton’s HHonors program are exempt from the new test fees. (For now at least.)

Hilton officials told Skift.com that the test is being conducted only at 20 U.S. properties in the Hilton, DoubleTree and Embassy Suites brands. The properties were not identified.

The Hilton officials said that in spite of the one-night fee imposed earlier this year, they are still seeing what they consider to be unacceptable levels of cancellations during a period of record hotel occupancy levels. The test will help them determine if a tougher penalty will make a significant dent in those cancellation numbers.

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Paying more pays off during holiday peak

November 23, 2015

Busiest holiday travel season since 2007 coming soon! (Chris McGinnis)

Busiest holiday travel season since 2007 is here! Are you ready? (Chris McGinnis)

During the peak holiday travel season, everyone’s looking for a deal or a steal. But the truth of the matter is that bargains are nearly impossible to find during the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

And if you snag what you think is a great deal, you might end up “getting what you pay for.”

As a matter of fact, paying a little more at this time of year usually translates into more peace of mind, more quality time with friends or family, and the increased likelihood of a low-hassle trip home for the holidays…. which is what we all want.

Here are six examples to illustrate what I mean:

1> Take a nonstop flight. While you might be tempted by the price of a one-stop flight, by choosing one, you are increasing your chances of a delay or cancellation by 100%! Why take that chance, especially if you are headed home for just a few days, and a delayed or canceled flight could spoil the entire trip?

Cost: $50 to $200 depending on flight length

Example: Flying during peak Christmas week between San Francisco and Atlanta, you’ll currently pay $781 roundtrip for a six-hour one-stop journey on American connecting in Dallas or Chicago. On the other hand, fly four hours nonstop on Delta or United and the fare is $820- just $39 more. Worth it to fly nonstop? I think so. (Fares checked Nov 23 for flights departing Dec 23, returning Dec 27 and are subject to change.)

2>Book roomier airline seats. While you can always pay a lot more to sit in first class, you can now pay a little bit more, and get a more comfortable coach seat. During the busy, crowded holidays, that’s money well spent. While getting a few extra inches of room always helps, the real benefit of paying for a better economy seat is that you usually get to board early—with elite level flyers—which means you get first dibs on scarce overhead bin space.

Cost: Varies based on carrier and flight duration– $10-$100 per segment

Example: I frequently take advantage of last minute upgrades to Virgin America’s Main Cabin Select seats, which offer a few extra inches of legroom at exit rows and bulkheads, free in-flight food and booze, dedicated bin space and early boarding privileges. While reserving a Main Cabin Select seat in advance can be expensive, cheaper last-minute upgrades (24 hours prior to flight) can make a good flight a great one. While your elite status can help land free upgrade, it’s not always a sure thing, so consider buying them ahead of time at this time of year– see American’s Main Cabin Extra, Delta’s Comfort+, United’s Economy Plus.

3> Stay at a hotel. Why burden the in-laws with the stress of houseguests during the already stressful holidays? Instead of bunking on that lumpy sofa bed or stuffy guest room, book a nearby hotel. Tip: Due to lack of demand from business travelers, most hotels are dirt-cheap during the holidays, especially those located in suburban office parks. Plus, hotel chains use their loyalty programs to keep heads in beds during these slower periods. For example, Best Western is offering 10% off its lowest rates plus 500 bonus Rewards points for stays now through Feb 7. Hilton is now offering 2,500 HHonors points for stays during December.

Cost: $50 to $100 per night, depending on location.

Example: A nice, newish Hilton Garden Inn in the northern Atlanta suburbs (Perimeter Mall) costs only $66 per night during Christmas week—but book it two months later in March when business travelers are back on the road and you’ll pay nearly three times that much– $180.

4> Review your charge card benefits & consider a new card. Most banks have added a slew of new benefits to charge cards in recent years to woo free-spending, credit-worthy frequent travelers, so you might be packing more power in your pocket than you know. While annual fees are higher for such cards, many now offer benefits that come in handy for holiday travel such as waived baggage fees, access to airport lounges, better insurance, early boarding privileges, early check in/late check out or upgrades at hotels, concierge services and more. And with sign up bonuses, your holiday spending could translate into big savings on next year’s trips.

Cost: varies, but $89 to $450 per year

Examples: While the American Express Platinum card sounds expensive at $450/year, the benefits can pay off big time. For example, the card gets you out of the airport holiday mayhem and into 600 airport lounges (gratis) around the world, covers up to $200 airline fees from checked bags to in-flight food or cocktails. For a $95 fee, the United MileagePlus Explorer card offers early boarding, one free checked bag, and two United Club passes. Many high-end cards also offer concierge services that can help get you out of travel jams—worth a call if you get stuck!

Don’t ask friends or family to pick you up at the airport (Photo: Uber)

5> Use Uber/Lyft to/from the airport or consider public transportation. There are lots of reasons why you should use a car service for a ride to or from the airport during the holidays. First, don’t burden friends or family with the chore of driving to the airport during rush hour traffic to pick you up or drop you off. Second, when arriving, you walk straight to your waiting car instead of waiting in those long, cold taxi queues at airports that form during peak holiday season. Flying into an airport that has rapid rail connections in house? Jump on the train and meet your family at a station instead of at the crowded airport.

Cost: UberX and Lyft offer fares that meet or beat cabs, but beware of surge pricing at peak times. Here’s some advice on beating surge pricing.

Deal: Get $20 off your first Uber or Lyft rides

6> Book holiday trips via a real, live travel agents. Most budget-conscious travelers shy away from travel agents who charge fees. But as the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) likes to say, “Without a travel agent, you’re on your own.” Most travel agents can use their experience, connections and clout to help get you out of sticky situations, plus most of them have knowledge and experience to offer you the best alternatives when or if you get stuck. This is especially true if you have complex itineraries or are traveling with a large family or group.

Cost: $20-$50 or negotiable

Example: ASTA’s motto surely rang true recently when winter storm Cato blew up the East Coast on Thanksgiving last year. Most of those who booked trips via travel agents were able to get through to them by phone and adjust travel plans faster than those who only had airline 800-numbers. (Note: Be sure the travel agent you choose has an after hours emergency number.) Another tip: Be sure to download your airline’s app to your smartphone, most can now help with rebooking and avoid standing in a long airport line lines during delay or cancellation situations.

Chris doled out some holiday travel tips to Fox Business News this week- watch this video

Where are YOU headed for the holidays? Please leave your comments below.

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Fare war + Food + NYC access + Members only discount + Reader survey!

November 8, 2015

Check out the lei market at HNL airport- best selection! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Check out the lei stands under the parking lots at the inter-island terminal at HNL airport- best selection! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

TravelSkills’ 10 most popular posts over the last week (descending order):

1 Let’s go to the islands! Hawaii fare war erupts + Earn Virgin points at Airbnb

Our post about the fare war to Hawaii brought on by Virgin’s entry to the market ended up as our most popular post of the year. Average fares from the West Coast are now back over $500, but keep an eye out for periodic deals brought on by the new competition. Set up fare alerts on sites like Airfarewatchdog or FareCompare. Virgin’s Maui nonstops start December 2, so we’ll keep an eye our for any discounts related to that launch.

2 What they’re doing for you: United, American test consumer-friendly initiatives

3 Sip soup for good sleep! Trip Report: Singapore Airlines business class (Part 2: FOOD)

4 Only plane in US with this seat: Trip Report: Singapore Airlines’ NEW business class [PHOTOS]

5 More deals to faraway places: Routes: AA to Tokyo + WOW to west coast + Air Canada, Lufthansa, Alaska

6 Legacy lock on the Big Apple? Airlines want better access to New York

7 Readers want Denver or New Orleans: Where will Virgin America fly next?

8 New perks: Hilton, Starwood offering members-only discounts

9 You have to see this: Look out the window- There’s a man on the wing!

10 Defending your Wi-Fi: FCC strikes again over Wi-Fi blocking

(Image: WoodlyWonderWorks Flickr)

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A few newsy nuggets from other sources that we missed on TravelSkills this week:

Navy missile tests over Pacific freak out residents & affect airline traffic

929 Lufthansa flights canceled due to strike

Delta considering creation of overseas subsidiary to avoid US taxes

United’s CEO says he’ll be back at work in a few months.

U.S. airlines predict busiest Thanksgiving travel period in eight years.

Earn triple (750) United miles for Choice hotel stays

Hyatt remains mum on Starwood deal

New York Hotel Week (early Jan) deals…or no deals?

Rumors swirl about upcoming American AAdvantage changes

Is inflight wi-fi just pie in the sky?

Back story on Delta’s ugly break up with trade group

CNN examines the dark side of business travel

San Diego ponders new multi-billion dollar airport

An unusual new Delta nonstop

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FCC strikes again over Wi-Fi blocking

November 3, 2015

Have you had trouble using a personal Wi-Fi hot spot at conventions in Baltimore? (Image: Baltimore Convention Center)

You’d think that hotels and convention centers would be well aware by now that the Federal Communications Commission does not tolerate any interference with business travelers’ right to use a personal Wi-Fi hot spot. But apparently the message hasn’t yet hit home with some companies.

Three months ago, the agency slapped a big $750,000 fine on Smart City Holdings for blocking personal Wi-Fi hot spots at five big U.S. convention centers where it provides Internet services.

And in the fall of 2014, it levied a $650,000 penalty on Marriott for a similar infraction at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville.

In its latest enforcement actions, the FCC said it intends to impose a $718,000 fine on a firm called M.C. Dean for blocking personal Wi-Fi signals at the Baltimore Convention Center. Business travelers attending conventions there who couldn’t use their personal hot spots and needed to link up to the Internet would have to pay M.C. Dean as much as $1,095 per event to get online, the FCC said.

The agency said it received a complaint about the practice at the facility, and sent its own field agents to Baltimore to see what was going on. It found that M.C. Dean blocked personal Wi-Fi “on dozens of occasions in the past year,” the FCC said. The company’s technology was so good at blocking signals that it “appears to have blocked Wi-Fi hotspots outside the venue, including passing vehicles,” the FCC noted.

The agency also slapped a $25,000 fine on Hilton for stonewalling the FCC’s attempts to gather information on complaints alleging Wi-Fi hot spot blocking at some of the lodging giant’s hotels. The FCC said it has been trying for a year without success to get answers from Hilton about the company’s “Wi-Fi management practices at Hilton-brand properties in the United States.”

The agency said it got a complaint in August 2014 about the Hilton Anaheim blocking Wi-Fi hot spots and demanding guests pay a $500 fee to access Hilton’s network. “The commission has also received Wi-Fi blocking complaints involving other Hilton properties,” the agency said.

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Hilton, Starwood offering members-only discounts

November 2, 2015

The Hilton in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. (Image: Hilton)

Both the Hilton HHonors and the Starwood Preferred Guest programs have come out with a new perk for members: room discounts on certain properties.

There are limitations to both offers. Hilton’s only applies to select hotels in four major cities — New York, Houston, San Diego and Miami; Starwood’s discounts are available at some 400 western hemisphere hotels, but only through the end of January.

A Hilton spokesperson told TravelSkills, “Hilton is testing these discounted HHonors member rates in a few markets through the end of the year… Hilton often tests new HHonors benefits to ensure they continue to provide HHonors member with relevant value.”

Both offers require members to book directly with the company, which means they’ll also get free Wi-Fi in their rooms. The discounts may only be 5 to 10 percent, and thus might not be the best deals available, and they may vary by advance booking times and midweek or weekend stays.

H/T: TravelCodex

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Best/worst hotel programs for rewards

October 22, 2015

This Chicago hotel offers the worst rate of return for reward redemptions (Photo: Sheraton)

Not all frequent guest programs are equal when it comes to rates of return for reward points, according to a new analysis.

The new Switchfly Hotel Reward Payback Survey from IdeaWorksCompany is based on more than 1,400 queries for reward stays from the four major loyalty programs — Starwood Preferred Guest, IHG Rewards, Hilton HHonors and Marriott Rewards. The company looked at the lowest available price in reward points and the corresponding dollar cost for the room, and adjusted the point value “to consider the different rates of point accrual for the programs.”

The result was a set of percentages that represented the average “payback” level for the four programs — i.e., a rate of 8.0 percent would mean the member was getting back $8 in value for every $100 spent on room rates.

The study found that Marriott Rewards topped the list with an average payback rate of 9.4 percent, followed by Hilton HHonors at 8.9 percent and IHG Rewards at 8.6 percent; Starwood’s SPG was the laggard with a 6.1 percent payback rate.

The report noted that while average payback rates are one thing, individual reward requests are another. The best value for program points comes when room rates available on a specific date are high and the point price is low. For individual reward requests, IdeaWorksCompany found that the payback rate ranged from a whopping 24 percent to a measly 2.5 percent.

The 24 percent rate was in Hilton HHonors, for a $479 room at the Hilton Beijing Chaoyang that cost 30,000 Honors points. The 2.5 percent return was for booking a Starwood Preferred Guest reward stay at the Chicago Sheraton & Towers at a point cost of 12,000 for a $150 room.

The company predicts that hotel giants will eventually make reward pricing for individual rooms more closely linked to rates, as some airlines like Southwest have started to do with award travel and air fares.

Which hotel program are you most involved with? Do you think you get good value when it comes to redemptions? Please leave your comments below.

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Shiny new hotels in: London, Munich, Taipei, India +

October 9, 2015

The Distillery Bar at Hilton’s new London Bankside hotel. (Image: Hilton)

In overseas hotel news, Hilton adds another property in London; Starwood debuts a pair of Alofts in Germany; there’s a new Marriott in Taipei; Marriott and Shangri-La have openings in India; China gets a new Marriott; and Bogota adds a new property from Four Seasons.

The new Hilton Bankside in London. (Image: Hilton)

The newest Hilton property in London is the 292-room Hilton London Bankside, in the Bankside district near the Tate Modern gallery. it offers executive-level rooms with access to an Executive Lounge; a restaurant called OXBO Bankside, and a bar called The Distillery, as well as a pool and fitness center. Rates range from $228 to $527.

The new Aloft in Munich has a new sister property in Stuttgart. (Image: Starwood)

Starwood’s fast-growing Aloft brand, aimed at younger, tech-savvy business travelers, has added a pair of locations in Germany. The new 184-room Aloft Munich is across the street from the city’s central train station, not far from the Pinakothek Museum and the Oktoberfest grounds. In Stuttgart, the new 165-room Aloft is located in the Milaneo mixed-use project, within walking distance of the main train station and the Schlossgarten park. Both properties offer SPG Keyless mobile room access, free Wi-Fi and the usual Aloft signature features, like a WXYZ Bar, Re:fuel grab-and-go market, and a 24-hour fitness center. Rates at both hotels start around $180 a night.

A guest room at the Taipei Marriott. (Image: Marriott)

Marriott International has cut the ribbon on the 320-room Taipei Marriott in Taiwan, in the city’s new Dazhi commercial area. It’s about 10 minutes from Songshan Airport and five minutes by car from the Neihu Technology Park. Guestroom sizes start at a generous 430 square feet, and function rooms include the largest ballroom in Taipei. The hotel has five restaurants and a lobby lounge with free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour fitness center, and a spa. Rates start at $213.

A panorama-view room at the Shangri-La in Bengaluru. (Image: Shangri-La)

The newest hotel in India’s tech mecca of Bengaluru (Bangalore) is the 397-room Shangri-La. The 19-story property is located in between the business center and the city’s upscale suburbs, with views of Bangalore Palace. The Shangri-La offers six food and beverage outlets, along with a lobby lounge, an outdoor pool, a health club and spa facilities, and a ballroom that can accommodate up to 900 persons. Introductory rates start at $150.

Lobby lounge at the new Renaissance in Lucknow, India. (Image: Marriott)

In the northern Indian city of Lucknow, Marriott has opened a new Renaissance hotel — only the second Renaissance in India. Located in the city center, the 112-room Renaissance has 26,000 square feet of meeting rooms, a rooftop infinity pool with poolside bar, a fitness center, Jacuzzi, and even a yoga studio, as well as two restaurants and a pastry shop. Rates begin at $131.

Executive lounge at the Chongqing Marriott. (Image: Marriott)

In the heart of Chongqing, China — near the Nanping business district — is the newly opened Chongqing Marriott, occupying the 30th to the 48th floors of the city’s landmark Guorui Centre. The 341-room Marriott offers three restaurants, considerable meeting and ballroom space, a heated indoor pool and 24-hour gym, and guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views, as well as a 47th-floor Executive Lounge with concierge services. Rates start around $110.

A suite at Four Seasons’ new hotel in Bogota. (Image: Four Seasons)

In Colombia, an October 15 opening is set for the Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina Bogota. It’s a restoration of a 1940s-era building with modern technology installed throughout its 62 rooms and suites. The hotel has a Spanish-cuisine restaurant, a 24-hour fitness area and a full-service spa, along with meeting space for up to 200 persons. Rates begin at $399.

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Hilton offers big SkyMiles bonus

October 3, 2015

Hilton HHonors get double Delta miles at hotels like the recently renovated Hilton Los Angeles Universal City (Image: Hilton)

Hilton HHonors members can earn big Delta SkyMiles bonuses this fall in a new promotion.

Here’s the deal: HHonors members who pick Points & Miles in their profile and specify Delta as their preferred Double Dip Points & Miles partner can earn not only double Delta miles on qualifying Hilton stays of two nights or more, but also another 250 Medallion Qualifying Miles per stay on top of that.

The offer applies for stays from now through December 31 at any property in Hilton’s family of a dozen brands (note: for stays at Home2 Suites by Hilton, there’s a cap of 100 bonus miles per stay; and for all properties, the limit on the number of MQMs that can be earned during the promotion is 10,000.)

To participate,, members should register for the promo at www.HHonors.com/DELTAMQM prior to checkout.

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Shiny new hotels for you: Chicago, NYC, Dallas, Houston…

September 22, 2015

Outdoor Terrace at Starwood Luxury Collection’s The Gwen in Chicago. (Image: Starwood)

In hotel news, leading properties in Chicago and Manhattan change their identities; mid-priced hotels open in the heart of Dallas and Houston; and more independents join up as affiliates of national chains.

Starwood Hotels’ Luxury Collection has added its first property in Chicago. The company has finished the previously announced conversion of the former Conrad Hotel (part of the Hilton family) into a Starwood property called The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel. It’s at 521 North Rush Street in the River North/Magnificent Mile area, directly linked to The Shops at North Bridge. It’s in the old McGraw-Hill Building, an art deco structure, and it’s named after Gwen Lux, a sculptor from the 1920s whose work influenced the design of the period. The Gwen has 300 rooms, three restaurants, and terraces overlooking the Chicago skyline. Rates start at around $360.

Another leading hotel in Manhattan has been acquired by an Asian company and changed its identity. This time it’s the New York Palace Hotel at 50th Street and Madison Avenue, right behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The elegant hotel which underwent a $140 million overhaul two years ago, has been acquired by South Korea’s Lotte Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of the Lotte Group, one of Korea’s biggest conglomerates. The hotel is now called the Lotte New York Palace. Earlier, the Waldorf Astoria was purchased by a Chinese company.

The new Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Dallas. (Image: Hilton)

Hilton Worldwide has cut the ribbon on the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Dallas at 1600 Pacific Avenue, next to Thanksgiving Square and the Thanksgiving Tower. It’s part of a mixed-use project in the city’s LTV building, not far from Dealey Plaza and the AT&T Performing Arts Center. The 171-room Garden Inn has free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, a 24-hour business center, outdoor pool, fitness center, restaurant with Southern cuisine, and a 24-hour Pavilion Pantry. Rates start at $135.

Marriott’s new SpringHill Suites in downtown Houston. (Image: Marriott)

The newest lodging option in downtown Houston is Marriott’s 167-suite SpringHill Suites Houston Downtown/Convention Center, located at 914 Dallas Street, between Main and Travis streets, three blocks from The Shops at Houston mall. The building, a former apartment complex, was originally the Humble Oil Building, dating to 1921. Guests get a free hot breakfast every day, and guest accommodations provide separate living, working and sleeping spaces. There’s an outdoor pool, a fitness center and a 24-hour market. Rates start at $229.

Meanwhile, leading hotel companies continue to expand their roster of independent affiliate properties, which participate in their reservations systems and their loyalty programs. In the latest developments, Marriott has added the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Charleston, S.C., to its Autograph Collection; and Hilton’s Curio Collection has taken on The Admiral Hotel in Mobile, Ala. and The Partridge Inn Augusta in downtown Augusta, Ga.

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100,000

BEST for Big Sign-up Bonus. British Airways Visa Signature® Card 0ffers a nice 50,000 Avios sign up bonus after you spend $2,000 in the first three months. But get this: You’ll earn an additional 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend $10,000 on purchases for a total of 75,000 bonus Avios. Even better: You earn another 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend a total of $20,000 on purchases within your first year for a total of 100,000 bonus Avios. In addition to the sign up bonus, you earn three Avios for every dollar spent on BA, and a free companion ticket (any class) when you spend at least $30,000 in a year. Plus there are no foreign transaction fees, and the card has a chip making it easier to use in Europe and beyond. Annual fee is $95. More.

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Uber update: Hilton app, Vegas, LAX, Sacramento, NYC, London

September 1, 2015

UberX drivers can now pick up passengers at Oakland Airport (above) and Sacramento Airport. (Image: Oakland International Airport)

The Uber ride-finding juggernaut just keeps rolling along. In the latest developments, Uber is becoming a part of Hilton Hotels’ app, and a pair of California airports now allow ride-sharing passenger pick-ups (with Las Vegas not far behind). But licensed cabbies in New York and London are getting some apps of their own to compete against Uber and Lyft.

Hilton said it is upgrading its HHonors mobile app with a new Uber partnership. The new “Uber Ride Reminder” feature will summon a car for a trip to or from the hotel when the user is ready. “The ‘Ride Reminder’ will send a push notification or text, and the hotel’s address is automatically set in the Uber app, so guests can simply be on their way,” Hilton said. Another new app feature called “Local Scene,” available for 20 major U.S. cities, will give users a list of the most-visited venues requested by Uber riders.

Want to get $20 off your first Uber ride? Here’s how!

Meanwhile, Uber is adding more airports in the western U.S. In California, Oakland International Airport now allows UberX drivers to pick up and drop off passengers as part of a new pilot program. And Sacramento International Airport signed an agreement that took effect this week allowing Uber drivers to pick up passengers there; it is in the process of negotiating a similar pact with Lyft. The Los Angeles City Council recently approved a plan to allow UberX and Lyft pick-ups at Los Angeles International, but there’s no firm start date yet– but we are monitoring this…

In Nevada, the ride-sharing companies are now expected to start operating at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport in late October. The Nevada Transportation Authority is likely to approve new rules for the companies next week, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal, and an ordinance allowing the service is expected to be voted on by the Clark County Commission on October 20.

Don’t miss out on this: How to get a free trip to Hawaii on Virgin America

Traditional licensed taxi drivers in major cities have been the most vocal opponents of expanded operating rights for the ride-sharing companies, and now they could benefit from new technology that will put them on more even competitive footing.

In New York City, a public roll-out is expected in a couple of weeks for a new smartphone app called Arro. It will work through the existing payment systems and video screens in most of the city’s 13,000 yellow cabs, allowing them to accept pick-up requests placed by consumers who have the app on their phones. Like the Uber and Lyft apps, Arro will use the customer’s credit card info to pay the fare plus tip.

FlyWheel, a similar app for getting cab rides and tracking arrivals via GPS (and does NOT impose irritating surge pricing), is already operating in these west coast cities: San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego.

And in London, drivers of the city’s traditional black cabs are counting on an app called Gett to help them ward off the Uber competition. The app will not only allow users to hail a licensed taxi, but will also offer them fare discounts of up to 30 percent for longer journeys during off-peak hours.

Want to get $20 off your first Uber ride? Here’s how!

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Hotels: New Hampton Inn SF, 2 more for Manhattan, plus Boston, LA

August 25, 2015

Hilton’s new Hampton Inn in downtown San Francisco. (Image: Hampton Inns)

The latest U.S. hotel openings include a moderately-priced (by local standards, anyway) property in the heart of San Francisco; a pair of new hotels in midtown Manhattan; an airport location in Boston; and a Marriott affiliate in Burbank.

In San Francisco, Hilton has cut the ribbon on the 174-room Hampton Inn by Hilton San Francisco Downtown/Convention Center. The newly-built property is at 942 Mission Street in the South of Market area, near the Westfield Mall and the Moscone Convention Center. Hilton’s first Hampton Inn in downtown San Francisco has free Wi-Fi, a pool/fitness center, 24-hour business center and a 24-hour food and beverage shop. Rates start at around $269.

Guest accommodations at the new 1 Hotel Central Park in New York. (Image: 1 Hotels)

In New York City, renowned hotelier Barry Sternlicht (he founded Starwood Hotels) has opened the first member of his new chain, called 1 Hotels. His new 1 Hotel Central Park sounds like it might be at 1 Central Park South, but it’s not; it’s at 1414 Avenue of the Americas, about a block from the park. The 229-room hotel is about as “green” as a building can be in Manhattan, with lots of wood and plants in the decor, and it meets LEED standards. Guests can ride Teslas within a 15-block radius, and rooms are equipped with tablets loaded with newspapers and magazines (to save trees from going to the paper mill). Rates begin around $350.

An outdoor terrace at the new TRYP by Wyndham Times Square. (Image: Wyndham)

Also in Manhattan, the former Best Western Plus President Hotel on West 48th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue has had a multi-million dollar overhaul and been reborn as the 336-room TRYP by Wyndham New York Times Square (not to be confused with the TRYP by Wyndham Times Square South on West 35th Street). All rooms have free high-speed Wi-Fi, and penthouse suites have balconies overlooking the midtown skyline. Rates start around $269.

The new Hilton Garden Inn at Boston’s Logan Airport. (Image: Hilton)

The newest lodging near Boston Logan Airport is a Hilton Garden Inn that just opened about a mile from the terminals. The 178-room hotel provides free Wi-Fi throughout, a 24-hour business center with remote printing capability, room service, breakfast/dinner restaurant and free on-site parking. Rates begin about $254.

Marriott’s new SpringHill Suites in Burbank. (Image: Marriott)

In the greater Los Angeles area, Marriott has added the new SpringHill Suites Los Angeles Burbank/Downtown, at 549 South San Fernando Blvd., about seven blocks from the Burbank Town Center and close to the Interstate 5 Freeway. It has an outdoor pool, a fitness center, free Wi-Fi and free breakfast and a full-service bar. Rates start at about $169.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Upgraded Hilton HHonors app + New perks for Starwood/AmEx cardholders + Alaska/AA airport lounge benefits + New international routes

Hilton triple points + Booming hotel demand, rates + Starwood’s new brand

August 21, 2015

Sheraton’s Taipei property is part of Starwood’s new Sheraton Grand brand. (Image: Sheraton)

In hotel news this week, demand for rooms hits a new record, forcing rates up; Starwood unveils a new premium tier for one of its global brands; and Hilton revives a bonus HHonors points promotion for the fall.

If you think you’re paying more for your hotel rooms this year, you’re right. The latest monthly report from STR Inc., which tracks hotel performance, found that U.S. hotel occupancy hit 75.3 percent during July, the highest level ever recorded by the company. The jump in demand for accommodations resulted in average room rates posting a solid 5.9 percent increase over the same month last year. STR said the biggest increases in room rates were in Los Angeles/Long Beach, up 12.6 percent to $173.87; and in Boston, up 11.7 percent year-over-year to an average room rate of $200.

Check out what you’ve been missing on TravelSkills.com!

Starwood Hotels has announced a new brand: Sheraton Grand, which it describes as a “premier tier” for the properties in its global Sheraton brand. Compared with regular Sheratons, the Grand tier will provide higher standards of service; more sophisticated design; premier locations; and better restaurants, gyms and Sheraton Club lounges, the company said. Starwood expects the Sheraton Grand brand to include 50 locations by year’s end and 100 properties by early 2017. The initial Sheraton Grands are in Bangalore, Beijing, Dubai, Edinburgh, Rio de Janeiro and Taipei, among other locations.

Hilton’s HHonors loyalty program has revived its popular “Triple Your Trip” promotion, offering members the chance to rake in double program points for Monday through Thursday stays or triple points for Friday, Saturday and Sunday stays from September 1 through December 31. The offer is good at 4,400 properties across Hilton’s family of brands, but members must book directly through a Hilton reservations channel, and must register for the promotion at www.HHonors.com/Triple.

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New upgrade for some Hilton HHonors members

August 12, 2015

An upgrade to the HHonors app lets it be used as a room key. (Image: Hilton)

Last summer, Hilton introduced digital check-in and room selection via smartphone app for members of its HHonors program, and now the company is rolling out another upgrade that will let HHonors Silver, Gold and Diamond members use the app as a room key.

“By early 2016, HHonors members will be able to use their smartphones as their room key to enter more than 170,000 rooms at 250 U.S. properties within the Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts and Canopy by Hilton brands,” the company said. The app will also open other doors at the hotel that might require a guest room key, such as fitness rooms and business centers.

With the new Digital Key upgrade, HHonors members who booked directly with Hilton and who select a room via the HHonors app no sooner than the day before arrival will be asked if they’d like to use the room key app. If they say yes, it will be issued when the room is ready on the day they arrive, so they can go directly to the room and bypass the front desk.

Initially available for iOS devices, Digital Key will be available for Android users later this year, Hilton said. It just started beta testing at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town in Alexandria, Va., and will be added over the course of the year at more properties.

Members who elect to use Digital Key will get 2,500 bonus HHonors points.

Hilton said that since it deployed the digital check-in and room selection features on the HHonors app last year, the app has been downloaded more than 2 million times and used for room check-ins more than 5 million times.

Other chains have rolled out similar electronic room key tests, but none seem to have been widely adopted, or perfected. Have you used something other than a key card to enter your room lately? How’d that work?

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Avoiding long customs & immigration lines + Fingerprint as boarding pass? + Hotel rate shocker + More!

New hotels: London + Hamburg + Prague + China + Hyderabad + Jeddah + Lima + B.A.

July 24, 2015

A guest room at London’s newly reopened Lanesborough Hotel. (Image: Lanesborough)

In overseas hotel developments, a London classic reopens; Starwood’s Luxury Collection adds a pair of properties, and so does Hilton’s Curio Collection; Marriott and Hyatt add China locations; Radisson debuts in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and Wyndham adds a Peruvian hotel.

One of London’s top five-star hotels, The Lanesborough, has reopened after an 18-month overhaul. The renovation of the 93-room hotel in Knightsbridge included all guest rooms and public areas, and gave the property a new restaurant called Celeste, offering French-inspired cuisine with British ingredients. Nightly rates at the Lanesborough begin at $1,100. Elsewhere in London, The former Hilton London Docklands Riverside along the Thames has been refurbished and rebranded as the DoubleTree by Hilton London Docklands. The 378-room DoubleTree is a short ferry ride across the river from Canary Wharf Pier; rates start around $280.

Seven historic buildings in the heart of Prague have been converted into the newly opened Augustine, a member of Starwood’s Luxury Collection. The 100-room property is within walking distance of Charles Bridge and Prague Castle. It’s the first Luxury Collection hotel in the Czech Republic. Rates start at about $350.

A room at the Reichshof Hamburg. (Image: Hilton)

In Germany, the renovated Reichshof Hamburg, an historic 278-room hotel across the street from Hamburg’s Central Railway Station, has opened as a member of Hilton’s Curio Collection — an affiliated group of independent properties that participate in Hilton’s reservations system and in HHonors. Rates begin around $175.

In the Middle East, the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has cut the ribbon on the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The 112-room Radisson Blu is on King Abdullah Road close to the Al Andalus and Al Salam shopping malls. It has an outdoor pool, fitness center and all-day restaurant. Rates start around $180 a night.

Exterior view of the Sheraton Hyderabad. (Image: Starwood)

The newest hotel in the Indian city of Hyderabad is Starwood’s Sheraton Hyderabad, a renovation of an earlier property. The 272-room Sheraton is surrounded by the corporate offices of multinationals, and is close to the HITEX Exhibition Centre and the Hyderabad International Convention Centre. Rates start around $100.

Luxury accommodations at The Grand Mansion in Nanjing. (Image: Starwood)

Nanjing, the capital of China’s Jiangsu province, is the site of The Grand Mansion, a newly opened member of Starwood’s Luxury Collection. The 158-room hotel on Chanjiang Road near the Presidential Palace has 15 suites and a 3,000-volume library as well as a tea lounge and a Chinese restaurant. Opening rates start around $175. Elsewhere in China, the 311-room Zhuzhou Marriott has opened in the central business district of Zhuzhou, which is close to Changsha, the provincial capital of Hunan. And Hyatt cut the ribbon on the 330-room Hyatt Regency Wuhan Optics Valley, 45 minutes from Wuhan’s airport in Hubei Province.

A room at the Anselmo in Buenos Aires. (Image: Hilton)

In Argentina, the 50-room Anselmo Buenos Aires — built as a mansion in 1906 along Plaza Dorrego Square in the historic San Telmo neighborhood — has become a member of Hilton’s Curio Collection. Rates begin at $139. And in Peru, the newly-built, 144-room Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima has opened in the capital city. It’s close to a number of embassies, the financial district and the Real Plaza Salaverry shopping district. Rates begin at $127.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Avoiding long customs & immigration lines + UberX, Lyft at LAX + Binge drinking on business? + More!

Surprising findings in your expense reports (Infographic)

July 16, 2015

Business travelers spent more on Uber and AirBnB in San Francisco than in any other city. (Image: Jim Glab)

Spending in the so-called “sharing economy” is showing big gains among business travelers, who are increasingly turning to ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft as well as the accommodations-sharing service AirBnB.

That’s according to the latest analysis of business traveler expense reports compiled by the travel and expense management company Certify, covering the second quarter of 2015.

Among its key findings: Business travelers are now spending more on Uber rides than on traditional taxicabs; and spending on accommodations booked through AirBnB, while still relatively small compared to traditional hotels, posted a growth rate of 143 percent just from the first quarter to the second quarter. Uber now accounts for 55 percent of ground transportation spending compared with 43 percent for taxis, the report said, noting that the market share of both taxis and rental cars have declined as ride-sharing services grow.

In sorting data by destination, Certify determined that sharing services are most popular among business travelers to the epicenter of the sharing economy, San Francisco, where Uber accounted for 79 percent of spending on local rides, and spending on AirBnB was highest in the country at an average of $558 per stay. (Story continues below graphic.)

“It’s clear that the sharing economy is here to stay for business people,” said Certify CEO Robert Neveu. “We believe this market shift is based on both convenience and price, since these newer services are typically more cost-effective compared with traditional vendors. Established travel providers will need to adapt quickly or face further market share erosion to the sharing economy.”

Although Uber dominates in ground transportation, the report noted that competitor Lyft is actually cheaper, with an average expensed cost of $22.51 per ride vs. $30.03 for Uber and $34.48 for taxis. Just over a year ago, Uber claimed just 22% of local ground transport– now it’s vaulted to 55%.

Meanwhile, business travelers continue to favor Starbucks and fast food over other types of food and beverage outlets when they’re on the road. Below are some statistics from the Q2 Certify spending report.

Most-Expensed Restaurants: Caffeine, burgers and doughnuts are our fuel, right?
Starbucks: 4.67% of expenses, averaging $10.77 per receipt
McDonald’s: 2.73%, averaging $7.75
Subway: 1.65%, averaging $16.69
Panera Bread: 1.62%, averaging $37.9
Dunkin’ Donuts: 1.32%, averaging $11.57

Most Expensed Airlines: Delta is killing it with business travelers
Delta: 20.07%, averaging $410.64
United: 13.46%, averaging $413.19
American: 11.7%, averaging $364.14
Southwest: 11.15%, averaging $304.84
US Airways: 07.58%, averaging $302.46

Most-Expensed Hotels: Marriott & Hilton brands rule
Marriott: 8.76% of expenses, averaging $243.07
Hampton Inn: 8.15%, averaging $228.52
Courtyard by Marriott: 6.52%, averaging $173.48
Hilton Garden Inn: 4.10%, averaging $190.13
Holiday Inn Express: 4.04%, averaging $239.08

Most Expensed Car-Rental Services: We are loving our Emerald Aisle, right?
National: 23.82%, averaging $180.52
Enterprise: 16.27%, averaging $181.78
Hertz: 14.49%, averaging $215.85
Avis: 13.79%, averaging $179.85
Budget: 03.96%, averaging $196.16

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: This guy got 1 million United miles + More changes to Delta SkyMiles+Airline fees: No end in sight + ATMs are out + More!

Affordable, new city center hotels: NYC, Chicago, Seattle, Atlanta

July 13, 2015

Residential-style accommodations at the new Hyatt House Atlanta/Downtown. (Image: Hyatt)

For travelers whose budgets don’t allow for five-star luxury, major hotel brands have recently opened some more reasonably priced lodging options in the hearts of major business destinations, including Atlanta, New York, Chicago and Seattle.

Hyatt has cut the ribbon on the Hyatt House Atlanta/Downtown, located at 431 Marietta Street NW, close to the Georgia World Congress Center and the Georgia Dome. The hotel has 150 residential-style guestrooms, studios and one-bedroom units, free daily hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool, and other amenities. Rates start at around $159.

Hilton;s new Hampton Inn Manhattan/Times Square Central. (Image: Hilton)

In New York City, Hilton has cut the ribbon on the 300-room Hampton Inn by Hilton Manhattan/Times Square Central. It’s on West 41st Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues, close to the Theater District and the Garment District. It offers free hot breakfasts, free Wi-Fi, a fitness center and 24-hour business center. Rates start at $228.

Hyatt Place Chicago/Downtown-The Loop. (Image: Hyatt)

The new Hyatt Place Chicago/Downtown-The Loop is at 28 N. Franklin Street, a block east of Wacker Drive between Washington and Madison streets. The hotel’s 206 rooms offer 42-inch HDTVs, sectional sofas, free Wi-Fi, and some have floor to ceiling windows. Guests get free breakfasts and access to an 1,800-square-foot fitness center. Rates begin around $189.

Hilton Garden Inn Seattle Downtown. (Image: Hilton)

Hilton has opened a new mid-priced property in central Seattle, the 222-room Hilton Garden Inn Seattle Downtown. It’s at 1821 Boren Avenue on the southern tip of Lake Union, within walking distance of the convention center and close to the offices of businesses like Amazon and Google. It offers a 24-hour fitness center, free Wi-Fi, a saltwater pool, restaurant, bar, and 24-hour pantry. Rates begin around $211.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Upgrades on United + TripAdvsior punked + Hotel resort fees okayed + 80,000 Marriott points + More!

Top 15 travel brands ranked

July 10, 2015

American outranked its U.S. competitors in a study of company branding. (Image: American)

American outranked its U.S. competitors in a recent study of company branding. (Image: American)

Shakespeare asked, “What’s in a name?” But in today’s corporate world, the question is “What’s in a brand?” Companies are obsessed with the ephemeral concept of “brand,” which refers to the public’s general awareness and approval of them, and a new study from Tenet Partners rates travel, transportation and entertainment companies on that basis.

Of the 15 firms covered in the study — which involved a survey of 10,000 “influential people” (i.e., “opinion elites and business decision makers”) — Walt Disney ranked first, followed by Hilton, Marriott and the Trump Organization.

Airlines ranked in the middle of the pack, with American finishing fifth — above United, Delta and Southwest, in that order; US Airways was farther down in 14th place. (Most interesting to us: That beleaguered United ranked higher than Delta and Southwest in this study.)

The study assigned a “power score” based on respondents’ familiarity with the companies, and the “favorability” score they assigned them.

Although Hilton and Marriott scored well, their favorability scores had declined, Tenet said: “While consumers’ are becoming more aware of these companies, their confidence regarding their overall growth, leadership, and ability to secure future earnings is waning.”

The study praised United, Delta and US Airways for showing upward movement in their brand scores. “Not only have these three brands grown their overall awareness and improved upon their corporate reputation year-over-year, but have done so consistently since 2010. Southwest, consistently rated as one of the top airlines in customer service, has shown an increase in year-over-year favorability,” Tenet said.

Of the two rental car brands on the list of 15 companies, Avis walloped its main competitor, with a BrandPower score of 40.4, 11 points higher than Hertz. “Across the board, Avis Budget Group improved year-over-year on Familiarity and across the three dimensions of Favorability: Overall Reputation, Perception of Management, and Investment Potential,” Tenet said.

Do you agree with these findings? Why or why not. Please leave your comments below.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Upgrades on United + TripAdvsior punked + Hotel resort fees okayed + 80,000 Marriott points + More!

Brand new hotels in Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle

June 11, 2015

The new Hyatt Centric South Beach in Florida. (Image: Hyatt)

In news of new business class hotels, two new brands debut in Miami; a luxury Philadelphia property will become affiliated with Hilton; Hilton grows its Curio Collection and overhauls its San Francisco Union Square property; and Seattle adds a pair of new hotels.

Recent openings in Miami include Hyatt’s recently-launched Hyatt Centric brand and a new AC Hotel from Marriott. The Hyatt Centric South Beach, a 105-room “lifestyle hotel,” occupies a 10-story glass tower at 1600 Collins Avenue. it has a library, an open-air deck and pool, a Spanish-Mediterranean restaurant and a fitness center.

Marriott’s new AC Hotel Miami Beach, at 2912 Collins Avenue, “is designed for those creative, well-traveled, entrepreneurial spirits who are constantly on the go and who appreciate the oasis of a well-designed hotel,” the company said. The seven-story, 150-room AC Hotel has a library, a rooftop pool and bar, fitness center, and “communal spaces that offer state-of-the-art technology and complimentary Wi-Fi.”

Rates start at around $200 at both Miami Beach hotels.

The big hotel news in Philadelphia is that the Logan Square Four Seasons has shut down, and when it reopens it won’t be a Four Seasons any more. After renovation work this summer, it will reopen in the fall as The Logan, a member of Curio-A Collection by Hilton. That’s the new Hilton-affiliated group of independent properties that take part in the Hilton reservations network and the HHonors program.

Hilton also announced the signing of several other properties to join its Curio group, including the Sam Houston in Houston; The Juniper Hotel in Cupertino, Calif.; The Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids, Mich.; The Hoodoo Moab in Moab, Utah; The Partridge Inn Augusta in Augusta, Ga.; and the historic Redmont Hotel in Birmingham, Ala.

Renovated guest room at the Hilton Union Square in San Francisco. (Image: Hilton)

In San Francisco, the landmark Hilton San Francisco Union Square just wrapped up a multi-million dollar renovation of 575 guest rooms in Tower 1, and added 11 new rooms, giving the hotel a total of 1,919 and helping it retain its title as the city’s largest hotel. The rooms got new doors, soundproofing, digital thermostats that show local weather, and Internet service that offers “the most bandwidth and fastest connectivity in the city,” among other improvements, Hilton said.

In Seattle, Hyatt has cut the ribbon on the Hyatt House Seattle/Downtown, located next to Seattle Center (home of the iconic Space Needle), offering 172 residential-style accommodations. And InterContinental Hotels Group has opened the Staybridge Suites-Seattle-Fremont, at 3926 Aurora Ave. North. in a neighborhood close to the University of Washington, new Facebook offices, and tech firms like Adobe and Google.

The new Hyatt House in Seattle sits in the shadow of the Sapce Needle. (Image: Hyatt)

The new Hyatt House in Seattle sits in the shadow of the Space Needle. (Image: Hyatt)]

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Big red tail back at SFO + Bumped out of first class by air marshall? + Newest Centurion Lounge + My favorite travel pants

Hilton sets launch of free premium Wi-Fi

June 8, 2015

HHonors Diamond members can get free premium Wi-Fi at hotels like the New York Hilton Midtown. (Image: Hilton)

Hilton’s HHonors program has provided us with more information about the planned rollout this year of free premium Wi-Fi for Diamond-level members who book directly with the hotel group (or through an approved travel agency partner), which was originally announced in March.

The new Diamond perk will begin this month for Hilton’s Western Hemisphere properties, although it won’t start until August or September for Hiltons in the Europe/Middle East/Africa region and the Asia Pacific region.

“Also, Gold, Silver and Blue members will receive free standard Wi-Fi when booking through one of our propriety channels or via one of our approved travel agent partners,” a spokesperson said.

Here are the specifics she provided:

Rollout Timing

Beginning in June 2015, premium Internet access, where available, will be rolled out globally and will be free of charge, for Diamond members who book directly. This offering will not be available until August through September in EMEA and APAC.
Free standard Wi-Fi will continue to be a benefit for Hilton HHonors Gold members who also book directly through our proprietary Hilton channels one of our approved travel agent partners.
Free standard Wi-Fi will be available on June 4, 2015 for all HHonors members who book directly at all StayConnected properties globally.
The HHonors Terms and Conditions will be updated on June 4, 2015 to reflect these changes.

What are your thoughts about the difference between “premium” or “enhanced” versus “standard” hotel wi-fi? Is a standard connection enough for you? Please leave your comments below!

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Bumped out of first class by air marshall? + Newest Centurion Lounge + My favorite travel pants

Hottest new hotels in New York, Dallas, Chicago

May 16, 2015

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Delta’s future + Aircraft size and flight delays + First class summer fare sales+ Chris’s summer travel outlook + United’s plans for LAX overhaul + Hertz’s fleet renewal

Guest room at Marriott’s New York EDITION. (Image: Marriott)

Marriott opens its new EDITION hotel in New York City this month, the old Statler Hilton in downtown Dallas is getting a new life, and a leading Chicago property will change brands.

In New York, one of Manhattan’s older landmark buildings — the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower, also known as the Clocktower — is becoming Marriott’s New York EDITION this month. Located on Madison Avenue near E. 23rd Street, the easily recognizable building dates back to 1909. As part of the EDITION brand — created by Marriott with hotel guru Ian Schrager — the hotel will have 273 rooms, a restaurant from celebrity chef Jason Atherton, and a design inspired by “turn of the 20^th century private clubs, Fifth Avenue’s Gilded Age Mansions and Stanford White’s architectural masterpieces,” Marriott said. Rates start at $675.

The former Dallas Statler Hilton. (Image: Hilton)

The old Dallas Statler Hilton at 1914 Commerce Street downtown opened in the 1950s and has been sitting idle for a decade, but it is getting new life. A developer plans to renovate the historic building with 161 hotel rooms on the lower floors and 219 apartments on the upper levels, with work starting this month. It will also get meeting rooms, office space and four restaurants. And when it’s finished in about a year and a half, it will be called the Statler Hotel and Residences, and will be a member of Hilton’s Curio Collection.

Entrance to the Conrad Chicago. (Image: Conrad Hotels)

The Conrad Chicago at 521 North Rush Street, just off Michigan Avenue, is a part of the Hilton family of brands, but it will change its name and affiliation this coming fall. The hotel’s new name hasn’t been picked yet, but it will become a part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection following a renovation project, Starwood announced.

NYC airport squeeze + Uber taking over + New Turkish livery + Top hotel programs + New Marriott in Venice

April 12, 2015

Summer storms could trip up travelers at JFK (Photo: Caren Mack Photography)

Squeeze on NYC airspace? Runway repair work at New York JFK starting this spring and lasting through summer could mean flight delays not just at JFK but at all of the region’s airports, since their airspaces tend to overlap. The Associated Press reports that JFK will shut down its main arrivals runway at the end of April for almost five months for resurfacing and repairs, making it longer and wider and giving it a new lighting system. The availability of three remaining runways at JFK should preclude any flight operations problems during good weather, AP said, “but during inclement weather, the loss of that runway could cause a ripple effect of delays at all three of the major airports in the crowded skies above New York.” TIP: At JFK and other airports, try to fly as early in the day as possible during summer to avoid the season’s airport-snarling afternoon thunderstorms.

Uber overtaking taxis for biz travel. Certify, a major provider of business travel expense reporting software, said its analysis of first quarter spending data shows that Uber is quickly making massive inroads into ground transportation. In this year’s first quarter, the firm said, Uber transactions by business travelers accounted for 46 percent of all paid car rides, up from 15 percent a year ago, while the proportion of taxi/limo/shuttle rides dropped from 85 percent to 53 percent. The average Uber ride cost $31.24, vs. a typical taxi fare of $35.40, Certify said. In San Francisco and Dallas, Uber rides now dominate over traditional taxi service for business travelers. If you haven’t joined the crowd and tried Uber yet, do so from this link and you’ll get $20 off your first Uber ride!

Turkish Airlines getting a special San Francisco-themed livery (Photo: Turkish Airlines)

A Turkish Airlines B777 getting a special San Francisco-themed livery (Photo: Turkish Airlines)

Turkish Airlines arrives. On Monday, Turkish Airlines inaugural Istanbul-San Francisco flight arrives painted in a specially themed livery. Turkish provided a sneak peak of the 777 getting all dolled up for the flight. We’ll have full coverage of the arrival here on TravelSkills and on our social media channels.

Loose change adds up for TSA. You know how you throw all your metal stuff into a bin when you go through the TSA security checkpoint, and if you’re in a big hurry to make your flight you might accidentally leave a few coins behind? Ever wonder what happens to that change? It goes into the TSA’s financial coffers and helps fund its operations. And just how much are we talking about? In 2014, travelers left behind pocket change totaling $674, 841. That’s a $37,000 increase from the previous year. New York JFK had the biggest spare change bonanza for TSA, at $42,550, followed by Los Angeles International at $41,506.

Recent: 6 tricky tipping dilemmas that trip up travelers

HOTELS

Best Western Rewards points can be redeemed at 4,000 hotels worldwide, like this one near the Opera in Paris. (Chris McGinnis)

Hotel Loyalty satisfaction poll. The newly released 2015 Hotel Loyalty/Rewards Program Satisfaction Report from J.D. Power and Associates ranks Hilton’s HHonors in the number one spot, tied with the Delta Privilege program at Canada’s Delta Hotels, a chain that was recently purchased by Marriott. Roaring into third place is Best Western’s Rewards program which has emerged as one of the powerhouses among hotel loyalty programs in recent years. In fourth place is the IHG Rewards Club at and in fifth, Marriott Rewards. The poll found that program members who can earn points for making product or service purchases at hotels showed much higher satisfaction scores than those who can’t; ditto for earning points at restaurants. The survey questioned 2,900 loyalty program members. What’s your favorite hotel program? Why?

Los Angeles restaurant recos: TravelSkills editor Chris McGinnis just took a four-day business trip to Los Angeles and highly recommends two restaurants: One is perfect for a power lunch. The other is the newest hottest place to see and be seen. Check it our on our Facebook page, and be sure to LIKE it!

Have you checked out Personal Capital yet? A powerful new tool from the former CEO of PayPay and Intuit (Quicken) to help busy people manage finances– some say it’s a better tool for wealth management than Mint.com. If you, like many business travelers, have a tough time keeping up with your investments, you should check it out today and help support TravelSkills!

Chic new JW Marriott Venice (Marriott)

Openings: Istanbul, Rio, Venice. In New York City, the former Mondrian Soho hotel on Crosby Street in Manhattan has been sold to new owners who have rebranded it as the NOMO SOHO (NOstalgic + MOdern) and brought it into the Preferred Hotels collection …Starwood Hotels has cut the ribbon on its first St. Regis property in Turkey. Located in an upscale shopping area in the city’s Nisantasi neighborhood, the new 118-room St. Regis Istanbul has floor-to-ceiling views of the Bosporus and a Spago restaurant from celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck … With the Summer Olympics coming to Rio de Janeiro next year, Hilton Worldwide has opened the 298-room Hilton Barra Hotel in the Brazilian city’s Barra da Tijuca neighborhood, five minutes from the Olympic Park … Forty acres of gardens and landscaping surround the newly opened JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Venice, Italy, located on a private island; most of the 191 rooms have glass walls and private balconies … The new 391-room Sortis Hotel, Spa & Casino in Panama City, Panama, has become a member of Marriott’s Autograph Collection.

Did you miss yesterday’s issue of our Weekend Edition? No worries! Here ya go:

Delta hub in China? + Lufthansa lie-flat + AA points promo + Delta mileage sale + SAS new biz class

In Case You Missed It…

Plan ahead to avoid troubles with tipping on your trips

Heading to Europe? Here’s how the strong dollar is cutting trip costs

Some European carriers are rolling out summer sales on business class.

Virgin America will soon start flying to Hawaii from San Francisco.

>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

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Suspicious behaviors + 2 lounges at SEA-TAC + 80K HHonors points + CLEAR expands + New Wyndham program + Pricey room service

April 4, 2015

Keep yawning in check at the airport! (Photo: Natalia Lobato / Flickr)

Don’t do this at the airport. We recently reported on a lawsuit filed by the ACLU that seeks to put an end to TSA’s controversial SPOT program — Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques, in which TSA agents are trained to look for travelers exhibiting “suspicious” behaviors. Now a website called The Intercept has obtained a list of the specific behaviors that TSA agents are taught to watch for, like excessive yawning or throat-clearing, “widely open staring eyes,” or a face that appears “pale from recent shaving of beard.” Check out the list to see if you might be mistaken for a terrorist. Have you ever been singled out as “suspicious” by TSA personnel? Why?

Big Hilton HHonors bonus. The Hilton HHonors Surpass/Amex card is offering a fat 80,000 HHonors Bonus Points if you spend $3,000 within the first three months of membership. If you are a Hilton regular, this card is a good one with automatic HHonors Gold status, plus you earn 12 points per dollar spent at Hilton brands. Annual fee: $75. Details here

New lounges at Sea-Tac. Airport Lounge Development, which operates pay-per-use passenger retreats at several facilities, has opened a pair of them at Seattle-Tacoma International. An individual day pass to the facilities costs $35 (vs $50 at most major airline clubs), and the company also seeks out partnerships with international carriers who might want to offer the amenity to premium passengers. Known as ‘The Club,’ the Seattle locations are in Concourse A near Gate 11, and in the South Satellite near Gate 59. You’ll find similar clubs at seven other airports in the US (such as ATL, SJC), all with free snacks and beverages, Wi-Fi, workstations and showers.

Your CLEAR card will get you in the fast last at SF Giants games this season (Image: CLEAR)

CLEAR’s got game. After testing the concept last fall, airport trusted traveler company CLEAR will broaden its scope, setting up shop May 1 at the San Francisco Giants’ AT&T Park. Members will use biometric ID verification to gain expedited entry to the ballpark via a Fast Access lane located at the Willie Mays gate. (They will still be subject to bag checks, however.) CLEAR has identified major sports venues as a natural market for its product. (More on SFgate.) This spring, CLEAR says it will be adding service at Baltimore Washington and Miami International Airports. What do you think about CLEAR?

New entrance at ATL. Drivers heading for Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson’s domestic terminal can take advantage of a newly opened northbound entrance from Riverdale Road, made evident by a new 35-foot-tall sign. The new entrance means the previous airport access point from Riverdale Road, at the south end of Terminal Parkway, has been permanently closed. The change is made possible by the opening of the Riverdale Road-Airport Boulevard intersection. Airport officials said the change should mean safer trips for travelers by “eliminating short weaves and merges.” What’s more, “The improved roadways will also reduce congestion caused by traffic leaving the airport from the Rental Car Center and simplify airport access from Riverdale Road,” officials said.

Orange County OKs ride-sharing. Officials of southern California’s Orange County have approved passenger pick-ups by ride-sharing companies Uber and Wingz at John Wayne Airport. Both were due to start last week, under terms of a new agreement with the county that calls for the ride services to pay a fee of $2.25 per airport pick-up. Ride-sharing services were already allowed to drop off passengers at the airport, and Uber’s premium services like UberBLACK and UberSUV had been permitted to make pick-ups under a separate agreement.

Did you miss this? Coyotes (and other rare sights) on the runway

HOTELS

(Image: Hyatt)

Room service/minibar costs rated. You’ve finished a long day of meetings and just want to crash in your hotel room with a club sandwich. But how much are you willing to pay for that sandwich? How about $24.15? That’s the typical cost of a club sandwich delivered by room service at New York City hotels — the most expensive in the country, according to a new TripAdvisor survey. How about just a snack, like peanuts from the minibar? That’ll cost $12.78 in Boston. A nice minibar vodka cocktail? New York wins again, at $16.76. In Denver, by contrast, the club sandwich is $11.65 and the vodka $7.17. And everything costs a lot less at hotels in foreign destinations, the survey found. Readers: What’s the most you ever paid for a hotel room service order or a minibar selection?

Wyndham revamps Rewards. Wyndham Hotel Group, which has 7,650 properties worldwide across a number of brands, plans to launch a “re-imagined” version of its Wyndham Rewards loyalty program on May 11. The company said the “core features” of the new Wyndham rewards include earnings of 10 points per dollar spent or a minimum of 1,000 points per stay, whichever is more; “Go Free” awards that let members claim a free night for 15,000 points with no blackout dates; and “Go Fast” awards, which allow members to book a night for 3,000 points plus cash. For details, go to www.wyndhamrewards.com.

In Case You Missed It…

How to avoid fees when you want an earlier flight.

San Francisco looks to the sea to accommodate conventioneers.

Reader ravages new Marriott, Hilton cancellation policies.

Chris goes to SFO to see the new British Airways A380 flight.

+++

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New Marriott/Hilton cancellation policy irks (Reader Report)

March 31, 2015

José Carlos Cortizo Pérez / Flickr

Effective January 1 this year, new last-minute cancellation policies went into effect at Marriott and Hilton.

This means that the relatively standard practice of allowing cancellations up to 5 or 6 pm on the day of arrival is no longer in effect.

In order to avoid paying for that first night, you now have to cancel a full 24 hours (or more, depending on property) in advance.

Some observers suspect that hotel chains imposed new rules to prevent travelers from booking a standard rate, then canceling the reservation at the last minute and re-booking at a cheaper rate using popular new last-minute booking sites and apps.

This new policy recently tripped up TravelSkills reader L.H. who was hit with a pesky fee and sent us the following correspondence with Marriott. (We have added bolding to highlight important parts)

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Dear Marriott: Has your cancellation policy changed? I thought standard policy was until 5:00 PM day of arrival at location/property reserved. If my plans change, say, on a Thursday morning not requiring me to stay overnight that night will I still be charged for that night?

Regards,

L.H.

Dear Mr H: Thank you for contacting Marriott. We appreciate the opportunity to provide you with information.

Each individual property has the authority to decide their own cancellation policy. This will vary with each and every location. The new common standard will be one day prior to arrival to avoid any penalty charges. Some hotels will require more notice. Some locations will have these policies that can vary by season. If we can be of further assistance, we invite you to reply to this email. Thank you for choosing Marriott.

Regards,

C.C.

Marriott Customer Care

Related post: How to find “hidden” hotel discounts

Hi C, Thanks for your prompt reply, although I find your answer somewhat evasive.

You seem to be trying to present a scenario where the “individual property” has the authority yet the “new common standard” is one day prior.

Sounds like an answer form a politician trying to please both sides. The individual property can claim it is Marriott policy and Marriott can claim each individual property has the authority.

Actually, your answer simply raises other questions.

Is there going to be full disclosure (prior to booking a reservation) as to whose policy or which policy is the rule?

What was the reason for changing this policy?

As a long time Marriott customer (Life Time Platinum) I find it odd that Marriott now decides to penalize its loyal customer base with such a change.

If I am traveling and for example, I wake up on a Wednesday and check e-mail to find that my business meeting for early afternoon has been cancelled. That meeting was to extend to the next day, which is also cancelled.

I am staying at a Marriott property and instead of checking out and being able to cancel that night’s stay as I have done in the past, I will now check out, but have to pay that night’s stay and the property will most likely sell that room thus resulting in a double sale for Marriott for that night on that room.

Often when traveling, I think I will end up in one city and turns out I need to bypass that city to go ahead to the next. Or, in a large metropolitan area, due to whatever reason, it is advantageous to move to a different property on the other side of town.

Business travel is very often subject to change for a myriad of reasons.

It seems counterintuitive for a company in business to accommodate business travelers with such a change that is quite unaccommodating to business travelers.

In the past, Marriott certainly seemed to be marketing its properties as business traveler friendly and flexible.

The simple answer, my opinion of course, is that Marriott as a company has decided to seek additional revenue gain through a cute maneuver via a “policy change” to pad its coffers.

I invite you to share my e-mail with Marriott management. I am theorizing there are many other loyal (former?) Marriott customers shaking their heads over this one.

Regards,

L.H.

Marietta, GA

What do you think about these new cancellation policies? Is it fair for travelers? What about hotels losing money on no-shows? Please leave your comments below!

–Chris McGinnis

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United schedule changes + Easy 1,000 HHonors points + Virgin 2-4-1 + New United gates + Lyft beats Uber

March 14, 2015

Say Aloha to Hawaiian’s new slimline seats. (Photo: Hawaiian)

Hawaiian adds seats. Hawaiian Airlines is increasing the capacity of its inter-island 717s from 115 to 120 passengers with the installation of new “slimline” seats. While some travelers have found the extra-slender seats to be less comfortable than the traditional kind, Hawaiian figures its passengers shouldn’t mind since all of its inter-island flights are under 60 minutes. Have you had the opportunity to go slimline yet? What did you think?

Schedule change in Chicago. If you fly through Chicago a lot, be on the lookout for plenty of schedule changes as United “rebanks” its flights this month. Air Transport World reports that United’s re-banking allows it to shorten connection times and improve directional flows at hubs, especially those that rely on East-West traffic flows. United successfully rebanked at its Houston and Denver hubs last year. ATW reports that United expects departures at O’Hare to fall 8% in some periods while aircraft size will increase 10 percent, allowing it to increase revenue and maximize use of valuable slots

New promo from Virgin. Virgin America is offering two-for-one fare discounts on its Dallas love Field routes to Elevate members when they provide the email addresses of three friends who might want to join that frequent flyer program. And the friends will get discounts of up to 20 percent. Virgin is also matching any competitor’s fare out of DAL through April 30. For details, go to www.weinventedhigherexpectations.com.

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Rendering of the new SunTrust Park coming in 2017

Delta goes to bat for Braves. When the Atlanta Braves move into their new stadium — SunTrust Park — for the 2017 season, marketing partner Delta will be there too. The expanded partnership between Delta and the ball club calls for the opening of an 18,000-square-foot Delta SKY360 Club on the lower level of the new ballpark, accessible from the premium seating areas. The club will offer dining, a pair of 20-foot video screens, and a 30-foot bar. The new park is located on the northern edge of the city in Cobb County near Cumberland Mall and the Galleria.

1,000 Easy HHonors points. This just in from Hilton… remember the glitch that stymied a promotion for 1,000 easy HHonor, points? Well, it’s back. HHonors members will need to update their passwords by April 1. As of that date, members will be required to create a new password upon login; Hilton will no longer accept PINs. “Since we know this can be a hassle for members, and to encourage adoption of this new login procedure, Hilton is offering an incentive of 1,000 Hilton HHonors Bonus Points if members update their passwords by March 25, 2015,” the company said. Just log in to your Hilton HHonors account, then go to “personal information” to change your password. More info

Travel apps for Apple Watch. Why should you have to haul out that clunky smartphone every time you want to check in for something? The Apple Watch, unveiled last week, has already started to attract new apps from a variety of travel companies. The initial list includes American Airlines (check in with your watch), Starwood Hotels (open your room door with your watch), TripAdvisor, OpenTable, Expedia and Citymapper. Meanwhile, Marriott announced that instead of providing a credit card at check-in, its guests can soon use Apple Pay, simply by bringing their iPhone 6 or Apple Watch close to a contactless reader at the front desk. The service will be gradually deployed starting this summer at brands including Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, Edition and Renaissance.

Passport app expands. A new app called Mobile Passport, introduced last summer for U.S. travelers re-entering the country at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Airport, is now available for Miami arrivals as well. Users simply input their profiles and answer Customs and Border Protection questions on the app (vs on the old paper forms), then proceed to the Mobile Passport Control express lane, skipping the longer lines. It’s available in the App Store and at Google Play. (We still prefer Global Entry, where you enter via a kiosk instead of a human, but this is pretty good– free, too.)

United tests new gates. Want to see what United Airlines’ next generation of boarding gates might look like? Check out Gates B-4, B-8 and B-10 in United’s Terminal 1 at Chicago O’Hare. That’s where the carrier is testing a new gate-area design that features things like mood lighting, new seating layouts, standing work stations and “boarding poles” (a la Southwest) for more orderly boarding.

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Image: Lyft

Lyft in, Uber out at Austin. How can a ride-sharing service win approval to operate at an airport in competition with traditional taxi services? By giving the airport a piece of the action. With the popular SXSW festival starting up in Austin last week, Lyft won approval to transport passengers at Austin-Bergstrom Airport by agreeing to give the facility 10 percent of its profits. Uber failed to come to terms with the airport, so its drivers have been threatened with citations if they try to operate there. Meanwhile, San Francisco International Airport said last week it has developed a new system for tracking “app-based forms of ground transportation.” SFO officials said the technology — which it will license to other airports — collects data to be used “for fee calculation, roadway planning and facility improvement efforts.”

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Better, faster, “free-er” wi-fi at Hilton, others

March 2, 2015

(Photo: The Digitel / Flickr)

Today Hilton (finally) announced that starting later this year it would offer free wi-fi to all guests except those who book through online travel agencies such as Expedia.

Until today, Hilton lagged behind most other major hotel chains in rolling out more liberal complimentary wi-fi offerings.

There are a few wrinkles to Hilton’s offer:

First, only top-tier Diamond HHonors members get free “premium” wi-fi— you know, the faster option that allows users to stream video, upload and download photos and crank through emails with large attachments. This starts in the “second quarter.”

Everyone else gets “standard” wi-fi— you know, the one that allow you to skim through email, Twitter and Facebook, check flight status or make an OpenTable reservation but that’s about it. (This goes into effect in August.) If you want a faster connection, you’ll have to pay up.

Unfortunately, new free wi-fi policies don’t apply at Hilton properties where there is an irritating “resort fee.” (UPDATE from Hilton: Diamond members who book directly through a proprietary Hilton channel or through one of our corporate travel partners will be upgraded to complimentary premium Wi-Fi at our hotels where there is a resort charge.)

Hilton was smart to add that guests who book via corporate travel departments or agencies will still get the free wi-fi. When Marriott announced its “free” wi-fi, bookings made via corporate travel managers and corporate travel agencies were not included, leading to loud squawks.

So far, Hyatt’s free wi-fi policy comes with the fewest strings attached— starting last month, Hyatt offers every guest fast, free wifi, regardless of how they booked their stay or their loyalty program status. Still, only Diamond and Platinum Gold Passport members get free premium wi-fi.

What are your thoughts about the difference between “premium” or “enhanced” versus “standard” hotel wi-fi? Is a standard connection enough for you? Please leave your comments below!

Here are the details of Hilton’s announcement today:

What are your thoughts about the difference between “premium” or “enhanced” versus “standard” hotel wi-fi? Is a standard connection enough for you? Please leave your comments below!

—Chris McGinnis

Did you miss our Weekend Editions? No probs! Here ya go:

New transcon biz class + United mistake + Seattle + Cruise for miles + Marriott expiring

Southwest growth spurt + Better food? + Wi-fi on Delta + Hilton double + Whatever!

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Southwest growth spurt + Better food? + Wi-fi on Delta + Hilton double + Whatever!

February 28, 2015

Umm BBQ on United. Is airline food getting better overall? (Photo: United)

Mmm, BBQ on United. Is airline food getting better overall? (Photo: United)

Southwest grows at Love again. It was just a couple of weeks ago that Southwest Airlines announced plans for a new round of expansion at Dallas Love Field on April 9, when it will add non-stop service to 10 new cities. And now the airline says it will grow even more, adding eight more destinations from Love starting August 9. Those cities, which will each get one daily roundtrip, include Boston, Charlotte, Detroit, Omaha, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh/Durham and Salt Lake City. On the same date, Southwest will increase frequencies between DAL and Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Houston Hobby, Little Rock, Chicago Midway and Seattle; and will boost DAL-Charleston, S.C. service from weekly to daily. Meanwhile, Southwest has sent out a targeted promotion to select Rapid Rewards members offering them double points on flights to and from Love Field through July 31. (Virgin America has been running a double miles promotion for Texas flights through March 31. Will Southwest and Delta use the same tactic against new competition from Spirit and Frontier at Atlanta?)

Umm BBQ on United. Last month, United Airlines introduced upgraded meal service for premium-cabin domestic travelers in its mainline fleet. And this month it is doing the same for the front cabins of United Express flights. The new cuisine, served on china, was introduced March 1 on Embraer E170s and E175s, and will be rolled out on CRJ700s and Q400s starting in April. Breakfasts include things like a fresh fruit plate, yogurt and breakfast bread; lunches and dinners offer two entree choices like a barbecue chicken and coleslaw sandwich, or ginger and garlic marinated beef. Desserts will be triple chocolate chunk cookies. First and biz class meals seem to be getting a LOT better on all airlines these days. Agree or disagree? Leave comments below.

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Whatever Woman by Phil Gyford / Flickr

Survey probes mileage plan changes. Now that both Delta and United have switched their loyalty programs from a miles-flown basis to a money-spent regime, website MileCards.com surveyed more than 1,000 “active frequent flyer program members” to see what they thought of the changes. Perhaps most surprising, 71 percent said they didn’t even know about the switch. (They must not be reading TravelSkills!) And of those who did, more than three out of five said it didn’t matter to them. Why not? A great many frequent travelers have credit cards from their preferred airline, and of those who do, three out of five say they earn more miles on the card than they do in the air. Still, 24 percent of the respondents said they would probably book Delta or United less often because of the change, while just 9 percent said they would book those airlines more often. What about you? Has the move toward revenue-based programs changed your travel habits at all? Or is your attitude more “whatever!”

New HHonors promotion. Hilton has revived its “Double Your HHonors” promotion, offering double HHonors points or double airline miles for stays from March 1 through May 31. Members can register for the promotion and see all the details at www.HHonors.com/Double.

(photo: Gogo)

Delta upgrades Wi-Fi. Delta said it plans to enhance and expand coverage of its in-flight Wi-Fi service by switching from Gogo’s air-to-ground technology to its new satellite-based 2Ku service, starting next year. Delta said the upgrade will go into more than 250 of its aircraft, bringing faster Internet service to long-haul domestic routes as well as flights to Latin America and the Caribbean. Aircraft getting the upgrade include 757-300s and -200s, 737-800s and -900ERs, and Airbus A319s. New A321s coming in 2016 will also have the upgrade. The airline said it also plans to enhance Wi-Fi service on its short-haul domestic fleet by using Gogo’s next-generation air-to-ground technology, bringing “faster connections at broadband speeds.” That includes 717-200s, MD-88s and MD-90s. Currently, only Virgin America has Gogo’s faster ATG-4 system fleetwide.

West Coast – New York LaGuardia flights on horizon?

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Virgin adds new payment option. Virgin America said it has become the first U.S. carrier to add Visa Checkout as a payment option on its website (www.virginamerica.com). “After signing up once, Visa Checkout removes the need to enter card details during the online checkout process wherever consumers see the Visa Checkout button,” Virgin said. Visa Checkout accepts all credit and debit cards, including Virgin America-branded cards. Customers who use Visa Checkout on Virgin’s website through March 15 can get $25 off a future flight.

Coming in tomorrow’s Weekend Edition: Following up on United’s fare errors, new transcon lie-flat biz class, new Mileage Plus redemption options, Marriott’s expiring points, update on Hilton’s 1,000 bonus point snafu.

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Big new Hilton in SF + New status/perks at Hilton/Hyatt + Fastest hotel wifi? + New storm

February 15, 2015

The Parc 55 is now a Hilton. Note the nearby SF Hilton Union Square tower in the upper left (Photo: Hilton)

Hilton adds two San Francisco hotels. HHonors members should be happy to hear this: San Francisco’s 1,024-room Parc 55 Hotel, located downtown at 55 Cyril Magnin St. near the Powell Street BART station and Union Square — is now a Hilton. The lodging giant said it purchased the Parc 55 (formerly a Wyndham) and four other hotels with the whopping $1.95 billion proceeds from its sale of the Waldorf-Astoria in New York to China’s Anbang Insurance Group. (The Waldorf will continue to be managed by Hilton, the company noted. And word on the street is that a massive, and much needed full renovation of the storied-but-tired property is in the works.) Meanwhile, Hilton is taking bookings starting June 1 for a newly built Hampton Inn a few blocks away from the Parc 55 at 942 Mission Street near the Moscone Convention Center.

Weather update: Nearly 1,700 flights canceled to/from Northeast airports as the area is walloped by yet another winter storm. And another storm is now bearing down on Southeastern states. Airlines are issuing waivers for those wishing to postpone trips. In the meantime, it’s 72 degrees, sunny and springlike in San Francisco and the plum trees are poppin’ purple! Here’s some hope for the shivering masses: Daylight savings starts in just three short weeks! March 8. Still have the winter blues? British Airways just released a video of Oxford University’s all male a capella group Out of the Blue, remaking Wham’s holiday classic, ‘Club Tropicana’ in Malta. Watch the fun video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92wSOebt4Nw

San Diego’s new Terminal 2 WEST is state of the art while the rest of the airport is pretty dour

Virgin moves at San Diego. Virgin America Airlines, which flies five times a day between San Diego and San Francisco, has moved its check-in operations at SAN from the dour, aged east side of Terminal 2 to the sparkling new west side. The new Virgin check-in counters and kiosks are located between the Delta and JetBlue positions, and airport signs have been changed to reflect the move. United also operates out of the new west side of Terminal 2.

Which hotel chain has the fastest free wifi? Huffington Post reports that of all hotel chains that advertise free Wi-Fi, good old moderately priced brands like Quality Inns, Ramada Inns, La Quinta and Best Western are among the very best, according to a recent study from Hotel WiFi Test, a site devoted entirely to testing Wi-Fi service. The company’s research found that nearly all midpriced hotel chains, for example, have functioning, free Wi-Fi, and it’s faster than what you’ll find at Hilton, Marriott or Sheraton.

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Expedia buys Orbitz. Apparently online mega-travel site Expedia wasn’t satisfied with its recently announced plans to buy rival Travelocity, because Expedia is now planning to gobble up Orbitz and its affiliated companies as well, for $1.6 billion. Besides Orbitz.com, that includes Orbitz for Business, CheapTickets.com, ebookers and HotelClub. Besides its namesake website, Expedia also owns Hotels.com, Hotwire.com and Trivago. This leaves Expedia and Priceline as the two major OTA players. Do you use online travel agencies, known as “OTAs” to book trips why or why not?

HHonors offers lifetime Diamond status. Longtime Diamond members of Hilton’s HHonors program will have that status extended for the rest of their lives, an HHonors spokesperson told TravelSkills. Specifically, the lifetime status will be offered to anyone who has held Diamond status for 10 or more years (not necessarily consecutive) and has completed at least 1,000 nights of paid stays. “Over the past several years we have learned from members that Lifetime Diamond Status is something our most elite members are extremely passionate about,” the spokesperson said, adding that members who met the requirements by December 31, 2014 will receive a lifetime card and a gift in the mail.

Hyatt has new perks for elites. Hyatt’s Gold Passport program is adding some new perks for top-level members. Starting March 1, Diamond members who transfer a free night paid with points to family or friends will have their Diamond in-hotel benefits (like breakfast, Regency Club access etc.) extended to those guests. Also effective March 1, Gold Passport Diamonds will get a pair of free passes each year for access to United Airlines’ airport lounges. And starting February 14, Diamonds and Platinums will get free premium Wi-Fi access at all Hyatts worldwide.

Seen this entrance to the new Baccarat hotel on W 53 in NYC yet?

Another posh NYC hotel coming. March 2 is the opening date for the next of New York City’s posh and pricey hotels. This one is The Baccarat, at 20 West 53rd Street. Rates will reportedly start at about $729 a night for a classic king room. As its name suggests, the hotel’s decor will be heavy on glass and crystal touches.

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Southwest Big Love + Hidden Delta rules + Remarkable Atlanta deal + SFO Centurion chef

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Mileage switch begins + Etihad mess + Marriott’s Mi-Fi blocking policy + Free Wi-Fi at NYC airports

January 4, 2015

Delta Connection flight for mileage item (Photo: Jim Glab)

Delta’s big SkyMiles changes now in effect (Photo: Jim Glab)

AIRLINES

Big mileage switch starts. On January 1, Delta became the first of the Big Three U.S. legacy airlines to transform the basis of earnings in its loyalty plan from distance flown to money spent. Under the new regime, non-elite SkyMiles members will get five miles per dollar spent on air fare, Silver Medallions earn seven miles per dollar, Golds get eight, Platinums nine and Diamonds 11. Delta has an online comparison calculator so you can figure how much a given flight would earn in the old vs. new structures. United will put the same spending-based structure in place for MileagePlus members starting March 1. (American/US Airways for now is sticking with the traditional mileage scheme, although during 2015 it has new mileage bonuses based on fare class, elite status and distance flown.) Some observers say the change to spending-based programs is a logical development following the hotel industry’s lead, but others see it as the latest step in a class warfare where airlines disproportionately cater to big spenders at the expense everyone else. Readers: Have you run any numbers to see if you’ll be better off under the new criteria vs. the old? What did you find?

Etihad mess. Etihad, which launched San Francisco-Abu Dhabi nonstops using Jet Airways B777s in November, took a big hit over the weekend when fog struck in Abu Dhabi. SFO-bound flight 183 had started its taxi toward take off when the flight was halted due to foggy conditions. Passengers ended up stuck on the tarmac for about 12 hours with no opportunities to get off the plane– and lots of bickering between passengers and flight crews according to various reports. After that ordeal, passengers endured the 16-hour flight to SFO. Luckily, the only damage from this incident is frayed nerves on the part of travelers and a big black eye for an airline just getting started in SFO. Regrettably, an elderly passenger on a Dusseldorf-bound flight facing a similar delay died. Since US rules (or fines and compensation) for such delays do not apply foreign airlines operating overseas, it will be up to Eithad to determine how it will compensate passengers and repair its image. Stay tuned….

Alaska lifts bag fee temporarily. All members of Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan who fly on the carrier during January will get a break from the carrier’s $25 fee for a first checked bag during that month. If you booked a January flight at an earlier date and your Mileage Plan number is in the reservation, the fee waiver will kick in automatically during check-in. What’s the purpose of the month-long fee waiver? “To encourage new and existing members to experience the benefits of Alaska’s award-winning frequent flier program,” the company said. For details, go to www.alaskaair.com/FirstBagFree.

Routes: Virgin, American, Spirit. Virgin America Airlines has kicked off new seasonal daily flights between New York JFK and Ft. Lauderdale … American reportedly plans to revive American Eagle service between Cleveland and New York LaGuardia on March 29, with three ERJ-140 flights a day — the same day United plans to trim its CLE-LGA schedule from eight daily roundtrips to six … Spirit Airlines is growing in southern California; it will launch daily San Diego-Denver service January 6, Los Angeles-Cleveland flights April 16 and a daily LAX-Denver roundtrip on the same date.

Meeting room at Phoenix Marriott Mesa Hotel (Photo: Marriott)

HOTELS

Marriott explains Mi-Fi blocking. Remember a few months ago when Marriott was slapped with a $600,000 fine by the FCC after its Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville was caught blocking the personal Wi-Fi mobile hotspots (also known as Mi-Fi) that some guests were using at meetings there? Marriott and the American Hotel and Lodging Association are asking the FCC for a ruling that such blockages do not violate federal rules, and last week Marriott sought to clarify its position on the issue. Marriott said it will never block guests’ Mi-Fi signals in guestrooms or lobbies — in fact, it encourages such activity. Instead, it only wants to block “rogue and imposter Wi-Fi hotspots used in our meeting and conference spaces that pose a security threat to meeting or conference attendees or cause interference to the conference guest wireless network.” (But if you read through the AHLA/Marriott petition to the FCC, it doesn’t say anything about limiting hotels’ Mi-Fi blockage authority only to meeting rooms.) Meanwhile, Google and Microsoft, along with other respondents, have jumped into the debate, urging the FCC to continue barring hotels from imposing any restrictions on Mi-Fi hotspots. Do you ever use your own Wi-Fi hotspot in a hotel? Will this be unnecessary as the big chains roll out free standard Wi-Fi at all their hotels? Post comments below.

Hilton, Marriott cancellation policies start. Just a reminder: January 1 was the effective date for new policies and Hilton and Marriott that require guests who won’t show up to cancel their booking no later than the day before their expected arrival. Otherwise, they’ll forfeit the cost of a night’s stay. (Some say the purpose is to stop guests from looking for better rates on last-minute booking sites.) We haven’t seen other major lodging groups match the policies yet, and if too many guests book away from Hilton and Marriott in favor of more lenient cancellation rules, the new policies might not last. Do cancellation policies affect your choice of hotels? Add comments below.

Resolve to get more out of your good credit score in 2015 with a new credit card! Here are our picks for the two best all-around cards— Both currently offer 40,000 mile sign up bonuses!

Lobby of Aloft Denver Downtown Hotel (Photo: Starwood Hotels)

Starwood adds three Alofts. Are you a tech-minded Millennial? Then you’re the target market for Starwood Hotels’ trendy Aloft brand, and the company just opened three of them in key domestic business destinations. In Detroit, the historic David Whitney Building at One Park Avenue has been converted into a 136-room Aloft Hotel; another new Aloft has opened at 16th and Stout in the heart of downtown Denver; and the third has made its debut at Buffalo, N.Y.’s airport. Here’s our take on the Aloft near San Francisco International airport.

AIRPORTS

Free Wi-Fi coming to NYC airports. By the end of the first quarter of 2015, travelers in all terminals of the three major New York City-area airports should be able to enjoy 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi with no ads. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is working with Boingo Wireless to upgrade Wi-Fi technology at LaGuardia, JFK and Newark so that free high-speed 30-minute sessions can be offered in all of them. Currently, the amenity is in EWR’s Terminal C, LGA’s Central Terminal and JFK’s Terminal 4. For more time online, the system will offer hourly, daily or monthly fees.

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>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

What are the two best all-around credit cards? Both currently offer 40,000 mile sign up bonuses!

Like what you just read? Then say so! Scroll back up to the top and LIKE the post on Facebook, post it on Linked In and/or tweet it!

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Faster Virgin Wi-Fi + Hertz status for SkyMiles + Kimpton purchase + Free Internet at Starwood

December 21, 2014

Virgin America Wi-Fi service (Photo: Virgin America)

AIRLINES

Virgin speeds up in-flight Wi-Fi. Flyers on Virgin America who use in-flight Wi-Fi should notice an improvement in download speeds now that the airline has completed the deployment of Gogo’s ATG-4 Wi-Fi service on all 53 of its Airbus A320s. With speeds topping out at 9.8 Mbps, the ATG-4 service is more than three times faster than the first generation of in-flight Internet. To promote the enhancement, Virgin and Gogo are offering a chance to win roundtrip flights, a new iPad or free Wi-Fi service for a year to persons who “share their best ‘office in the sky’ moment on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #OfficeInTheSky.” Readers, what’s your experience with in-flight Wi-Fi? Too slow? Too expensive? Or just right? Post comments below.

Gogo Wi-Fi Tip: Did you know that you can buy Gogo day passes online before your flight for just $16 vs the $35+ fee you’ll pay for connecting on the plane? This saves the most money for longer transcon flights. Get your passes ahead of time here: Gogo $16 day pass

SkyMiles offers Hertz status. Delta has bolstered its partnership with Hertz by offering SkyMiles Medallion members elite status in the car rental company’s Gold Plus Rewards program, which will give them expedited service and car upgrade eligibility. Gold Medallions can join Hertz’s Five Star Program, while Platinums and Diamonds are eligible for the Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle. Delta set up a web page with a link to the registration process for Hertz status enrollment. Medallions can also scan Hertz’s summary of benefits for the Gold Plus Rewards status levels.

Alaska debuts new in-flight perks. Streaming in-flight entertainment to personal electronic devices is just one of the perks Alaska Airlines is rolling out as part of its new “Alaska Beyond” in-flight improvements. The company said entertainment streaming — currently available on 50 of its 737s, and coming on the rest by April — will be free through January 31; after that, movies and TV shows start at $1.99. The improvements also include new Recaro leather seats with power outlets and USB ports at every seat (currently on 95 percent of its aircraft) and new in-flight service that offers “locally-sourced, artisan food and beverage from iconic Northwest brands.” Later in 2015, Alaska is due to begin installing new overhead bins that provide 48 percent more storage space.

Routes: Southwest, JetBlue, AA. Southwest will add new service next year on several routes: On June 7, it will begin twice-daily Los Angeles-Portland, Ore. flights as well as new daily service between LAX-Indianapolis, Oakland-Nashville and Oakland-New Orleans. On June 28, it will add twice-daily Indianapolis-Boston flights and daily service between Austin-St. Louis and Austin-Orange County, Calif. … JetBlue last week inaugurated three new Florida routes from Washington Reagan National, including twice-daily service to Jacksonville and daily flights to Ft. Myers and West Palm Beach … American Airlines has filed for government approval to start code-sharing with Mexican carrier Interjet, with plans to put the AA code onto Interjet flights from Mexico City to Huatulco, Villahermosa, Merida, Tuxla Gutierrez and Oaxaca.

China connections: United, Virgin. United Airlines plans to boost seasonal capacity from San Francisco to China in 2015. The carrier said that from May 6 to October 24, it will double its SFO-Shanghai service to two flights a day, and from June 4 to September 1 it will increase SFO-Chengdu frequencies from three a week to daily. Meanwhile, Virgin America said that starting in 2015, it will offer members of its Elevate program reciprocal benefits with China Eastern, so they can earn and burn miles on the Chinese carrier’s flights. Virgin will also add the Shanghai-based airline’s code to a number of its U.S. routes.

AIRPORTS

Qantas First lounge at LAX (Photo: Qantas)

New Qantas First lounge at LAX. Qantas has cut the ribbon on a new Qantas First lounge at Los Angeles International Airport that’s more than three times the size of its predecessor. The new Qantas First facility — open to first class customers, Qantas Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers, and Oneworld Emerald and international first class flyers — can seat more than 200 guests. It has a 74-seat restaurant with cuisine from Australian celebrity chef Neil Perry, as well as enhanced services like faster Wi-Fi, wireless printing, cable TV, a pair of private work suites and seven shower suites. Meanwhile, Qantas last week increased service on it s LAX-Melbourne route from seven flights a week to 10.

HOTELS

Guest room at Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Philadelphia (Photo: Kimpton)

InterContinental to acquire Kimpton Hotels. The popular and fast-growing boutique chain Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, with 62 U.S. properties and 16 more in the works, is being acquired by InterContinental Hotels Group for $430 million. Noting that the boutique hotel business is “the fastest growing segment in the industry,” IHG said that Kimpton, with its distinctive designs and decors, will be “highly complementary with IHG’s Hotel Indigo and EVEN Hotels brands.” The purchaser said it would speed up the growth of Kimpton in the U.S. and introduce the brand in foreign destinations, citing a “significant opportunity” for expansion in Europe and Asia. There will be no immediate impact on customers; Kimpton told members of its Karma Rewards plan in an email that its program and the IHG Rewards Club “will continue to run as separate loyalty programs” for the time being.

Starwood expands free Wi-Fi. On the heels of a similar announcement by Marriott two months ago, Starwood Hotels & Resorts said that effective February 2, 2015, members of its Starwood Preferred Guest program who book their rooms directly through a Starwood digital channel including websites and mobile apps will get free standard in-room Wi-Fi access at all the company’s brands. Starwood already offers free Internet at its Aloft, Element, and Four Points by Sheraton brands in North America, and to SPG Platinum members. Starwood’s other brands include St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Meridien and Sheraton.

Hilton digital check-in goes live. Hilton Worldwide announced last week that guests who use its Hilton HHonors app can now check in digitally at more than 4,100 of its properties worldwide in 11 brands, using their own smartphones, tablets or desktops. They can also use the app to select a specific room for their stay. Next year, Hilton said, it will expand the app’s functionality so guests can unlock their room doors with their smartphones, starting with its Conrad, Hilton, Waldorf Astoria and Canopy by Hilton brands. Have you tried digital check-in with any hotels yet? Any problems?

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New look for Newark + United goes Android + New Delta look at LAX + Fee at Hilton/Marriott

November 24, 2014

Which country boasts this gorgeous passport design? See below

Which country boasts this gorgeous design on passport pages including the North Star, Moon and Northern Lights? Scroll to bottom for full story!

AIRLINES

Just in time for the busy holidays, United has (finally) extended its new onboard streaming service to Android users. Apple iPhone and iPad users (as well as those on any laptop) have been able to give the new service a try since last spring. To use it, you must first download the United app from the Google Play or Apple App store in order to watch a variety free TV shows and movies while in flight on nearly 200 United aircraft, including its entire Airbus A319, Airbus A320 and Boeing 747 fleets and its Boeing 777 flying between the mainland and Hawaii. For the full story on inflight streaming, see this recent TravelSkills post: BYOD Entertainment on Planes. Have you tried United’s inflight streaming product yet? How did that go for you?

You are reading Part 2 of this week’s Catch Up in Travel News from TravelSkills. Here’s Part 1

AIRPORTS

NEW RAIL LINK UP & RUNNING. BART’s new Oakland airport service got off to a wet start last Saturday — with crews forced to squeegee off rain that had blown in and flooded the airport station platform — but nothing could dampen the enthusiasm of its jubilant first-day riders, according to SFgate.com “It was great, it was wonderful, it was easy, quick and cheap,” said one rider. New automated trains will transport riders from BART’s Coliseum station to the new Oakland Airport station every five minutes during peak hours; the ride takes eight minutes. The ride from the Coliseum station to/from downtown SF takes about 25 minutes. BART fares between the new Oakland Airport station and downtown San Francisco are $10.05. More…

A rendering of the future look for United’s Concourse C in Newark (Image: OTG)

Big-name chefs coming to EWR. United Airlines and development partner OTG Management have revealed more plans for the ongoing overhaul of Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport. Not only is the revamped facility bringing in new restaurants from a number of high-visibility chefs, but travelers will be able to use their MileagePlus miles to pay for food and drinks through some of the 6,000 iPads that will be deployed in the terminal’s restaurants, bars and gate areas. The headliner restaurant will be chef Alaine Ducasse’s Saison, a French bistro; others include a French country eatery from Alex Guarnaschelli; an Italian steakhouse from Mario Carbone, and a surf bar and sushi outlet from Josh Capon.

Taxi turmoil at SFO. Organized taxi drivers clogged up the roadways outside passenger terminals at San Francisco International one night last week to protest the airport’s recent decisions to let app-based ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft operate there. And members of the Taxi Workers Alliance are threatening to repeat the curbside chaos at SFO “again and again” unless the airport changes its policy. Meanwhile, a top Uber executive stirred up a mini-scandal after word leaked out that he had threatened to start digging up dirt on journalists who write negative stories about the company. Would negative publicity about Uber make you less likely to use their service? Put your comments below.

Extra Bonus! Here’s an easy way to top off your Chase Ultimate Rewards balance with 20,000 points!

Delta’s Sky Prority lobby at LAX efore (above) and after (below)

Lobby remake at LAX. Delta has finished the renovation of its Sky Priority lobby at Los Angeles International’s Terminal 5. Take a look at the before and after photos.

HOTELS

New fees coming at Hilton, Marriott. Effective January 1, Hilton and Marriott will impose a new standard cancellation fee — a single night’s room rate — on no-show guests unless they have cancelled their bookings at least the day before scheduled arrival. If individual hotels within the groups already have more restrictive cancellation policies, those will remain in effect. Not all chains are adopting a uniform policy; e.g., things are unchanged at Best Western, a spokesperson said, where cancellation policies vary by the rate booked and the individual hotel’s policy; policies are listed under each rate bookable on bw.com.

This is what Norway’s passport pages look like in normal light. (Image: Neue)

This is what the pages of Norway’s new passport look like in normal light. The darker image above (scroll to top), which reveals the north star and northern lights, is only visible under UV light. Beautiful! (Full story from CNN here)

You are reading Part 2 of this week’s Catch Up in Travel News from TravelSkills. Here’s Part 1

-Jim Glab & Chris McGinnis

In Case You Missed It…

More benefit cuts are coming to United’s MileagePlus.

Google offers unsual, data-driven Thanksgiving traffic travel tips.

Olefactory stimulants: Chris lists his favorite travel smells. What are yours?

>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

Extra Bonus! Here’s an easy way to top off your Chase Ultimate Rewards balance with 20,000 points!

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New hotels: Honolulu

November 8, 2014

Sunset mai tais and slack guitar at the Halekulani (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

At TravelSkills, we love new hotels. They smell better, work better, feel better, and are usually bigger, brighter and hipper than others. But new can also have its downside: Construction noise, service issues, and/or locations in sketchy or “upcoming” neighborhoods. Some are so new that TripAdvisor reviews are scant compared to more established hotels. In an ongoing feature, TravelSkills reports on the newest hotels in the world’s most important cities. When we say “newest” we have certain criteria around that: The hotels have to be brand new or deeply renovated within the last few years, 3+ stars and appropriate venues for business travel.

On a recent quick business trip to Honolulu I took a walk through Waikiki to check out the newest hotels fit for business travelers. (Okay, I did get to the beach once between appointments and had a sunset mai-tai at the always fabulous Halekulani pictured above.)

My first impression of Waikiki is that it has really cleaned up its act. It seemed overcrowded and a bit seedy last time I was there in 2012. While the improvement effort is working, the place is still clogged with fanny-packing vacationers, tour buses and hawkers– a good sign for the local economy. But a hassle for business travelers.

There are very few new-from-the-ground-up hotels in Honolulu…except for maybe the towering Trump hotel/condo structure, which opened in 2009 and the hotel seems permanently positioned at the top of Honolulu’s TripAdvisor rankings. Most “new” hotels are massive refurbs of existing buildings that feel brand new and are great choices whether you are in town for work…play…or as is most likely, a little of both…

Poolside at the Modern Honolulu hotel- great for sunbathing or a power breakfast (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

ON THE EDGE. The best thing about the new 353-room Modern Honolulu is its location on the far western edge of Waikiki. The striking white, mid-century modern, 17-story hotel (opened in 2011) is the one closest to central Honolulu– a huge plus for business travelers with meetings downtown or at the nearby convention center.

The location also means that it is closest to the airport, which reduces transfer time in this notoriously traffic-clogged town. But you pay a price for that location—the hotel is not directly on the beach—instead it overlooks a marina, but the beach is a short, easy five-minute walk away.

The best rooms in the house are the two-room oceanfront suites facing the water—most have a walk-out veranda with big sliding glass doors that offer nice views and allow the trade winds to breeze through.

The other things I really liked about this hotel, which consistently ranks among the top two Honolulu hotels on TripAdvisor: Free, fast and easy wi-fi, desks that face windows instead of a wall, and big bright bathrooms bathed in terrazzo with walk in showers. There’s also a secluded, tranquil an adults-only pool—a rarity in this part of the world.

For entertaining, make a reservation at the hotel’s super-hip Morimoto Waikiki for some of the best sushi (and wagyu beef) in town, plus great views and people watching…it’s where President Obama dines when he’s in town. Room rates start at around $290 per night, based on the season, and thankfully there are no irritating “resort fees” which are common in Hawaii.

Hilton’s brand new Hokulani Honolulu used to the the Ohana Islander hotel- but got a complete makeover (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

IN THE MIDDLE: Hilton’s new 143-room Hokulani Waikiki, which opened in February 2014, is a real find in the thick of things in Waikiki at the corner of busy Kalakaua Boulevard and Lewers Street. The hotel’s main entrance and lobby is on the second floor (up an escalator), which removes guests from the street level hubbub—the lobby’s big water feature adds to the modern, tranquil scene.

All rooms (which start at about $350 per night) in this 16-story building are brand new one-bedroom suites with hardwood floors, free, fast wi-fi, efficiency kitchens with refrigerators and cooktops and a microwave (great for longer stays). Bathrooms include separate walk in showers and big soaker tubs. For fresh air, most have sliding glass door access to shallow balconies.

There’s a big bright pool deck and bar on the roof with views down to the beach across the sprawling Waikiki Beach Walk development, which has redefined and enhanced this once somewhat seedy part of town.

Since it’s so new, the hotel has only garnered just over 100 reviews on TripAdvisor but already ranks #14 out of 82 Honolulu hotels. Best of all, you can earn or burn your HHonors points at the Hokulani—it’s the newest Hilton in town.

View from the recently refurbed Ali’i Tower at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. (Photo Chris McGinnis)

Speaking of Hilton, if you are a fan of the kitschy, crowded but supremely popular Hilton Hawaiian Village, you’ll be pleased to know that when I was there, foundations were being laid for at least two more towers. Right now, business travelers should opt to stay in the recently re-furbed Ali’i Tower— this original tower at the massive complex emerged from a major $26 million facelift in 2013 and feels like a brand new hotel. Plus, it offers some of the best water views in the Village. (See above)

Disclosure: I was a guest of Hawaiian Airlines on this trip, which arranged a 2 night stay at the Modern.

–Chris McGinnis

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Delta hubs suffer + Shuttle moves at LGA + Oakland BART connection + Double Hilton points

November 2, 2014

The long awaited BART link to Oakland airport expected to open this month (Photo: BART)

AIRLINES

Demand keeps driving fares upward. When the price of oil goes up, air fares go up. So when oil prices fall as much as they have in recent months, air fares go down, right? Not in a period of strong demand for air travel. Jet fuel prices are down 22 percent this year, but an ongoing series of small increases has kept air fares above 2013 levels. According to the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ latest report (for the second quarter of 2014), the average U.S. air fare rose 2.5 percent year-over-year to $396. Delta is a big beneficiary of the higher fares; Its Cincinnati hub once again had the highest average domestic fare at $523, and its Atlanta hub recorded the biggest average fare increase of any major airport — up 11.3 percent to $435. Have you noticed? Please leave your comments below– what’s the most painfully high fare you’ve paid this year?

Delta Shuttle moves at LGA. A reminder to frequent flyers in the Northeast Corridor: Sunday (November 2) is moving day for Delta’s New York-Boston Shuttle flights at LaGuardia. The hourly LGA-BOS flights will move from LGA’s remote Marine Air Terminal to Delta’s recently-renovated Terminal C. The airline has also switched the flights to two-class 717 aircraft with 12 First Class, 15 Economy Comfort and 83 economy seats. Delta’s Chicago and Washington Reagan National Shuttle flights continue to use LGA’s Marine Air Terminal with Delta Connection/Shuttle America E-175s.

Southwest quickly absorbing last remnants of AirTran. This just in from Southwest: “As of today, all flights previously flown by AirTran between seven international destinations and nine domestic gateway cities are now flown exclusively by Southwest. Additionally, Southwest is proud to announce that we have finalized the integration of Southwest.com and AirTran.com. Effective today, Customers attempting to access AirTran.com will be routed to an informational page on Southwest.com where they can book travel, view integration-related FAQs, and find loyalty program information.”

Air Canada changes loyalty plan. Air Canada is the latest major carrier tighten up the rules of its frequent flyer program. For 2015, the minimum flight requirement to reach Altitude status levels is increasing and the minimum 500-mile earning per flight will end. On March 15, the number of eUpgrade credits to upgrade to business class will rise, but members will also be able to use those credits to upgrade to Premium Economy.

Some say that business class on American's B777-300ER is the best in the US. What do you think? (Photo: American Airlines)

Some say that business class on American’s B777-300ER is the best among US carriers. What do you think? (Photo: American Airlines)

Route news: AA, JetBlue, Alaska. Faced with new competition from Delta between Los Angeles and London Heathrow, American said it will add a second daily non-stop on the route in March, using another of its popular 777-300ERs (giving it a total of four a day in combination with joint venture partner British Airways) … JetBlue keeps growing at Ft. Lauderdale. In its latest expansion last week, it added flights to Cartagena, Jacksonville, Las Vegas and Pittsburgh … On March 5, Alaska Airlines will begin service three times a week between San Diego and Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island.

AIRPORTS

Oakland prepares for BART launch. An extension of Bay Area Rapid Transit rail service to Oakland International Airport is expected to start passenger service sometime this month, and testing of the trains is already under way. The 3.2-mile extension will link Oakland’s Coliseum Station to the airport, and will replace the buses currently used for that purpose, with trains running every four to five minutes. Here’s a video of the pre-launch testing of the new OAK trains. In typical municipal fashion, BART is not willing to offer up a hard date for opening…but says it might be up and running before the holidays. (See photo above.)

DOT probes ‘interference’ in new Georgia airport. The Transportation Department is looking into a complaint that Delta may have interfered in efforts to develop a second Atlanta-area airport. The complaint was filed by county commissioners in Paulding County, who said they want to see commercial low-cost air service at Silver Comet Field, about 40 miles northwest of Atlanta. Atlanta is the only one of the 10 largest U.S. metro areas that doesn’t have a secondary airport. UPDATE: DOT is not investigating Delta per se, according to FORBES.

Customs kiosks come to Denver. Denver International is the latest U.S. airport to install Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks for U.S. citizens returning from international trips. The 16 new BorderXPress APCs — which passengers can use to provide passport and customs declaration information and to verify identities — are expected to speed up processing, especially during the busy 4-7 p.m. period. The APCs are now in 17 U.S. airports.

POPULAR this week: How often do planes get washed? Surprising answer

TRENDS

Do your eyes glaze over when you hear or read about yet another report, panel discussion or product launch focusing on millennial travelers? This young demographic cohort is getting so much attention that other important segments of the population might be getting overlooked. In this post for the Switchfly blog, Chris examines the full spectrum of US generations and exposes their traits when it comes to travel. First of all, he labels them. (Age ranges are estimations.)

GenZ or iGen (under 15)
Millennial or Gen Y (14-34)
GenX (35-49)
Boomer (50-69)
Silent (70-84)
Greatest (85+)

CARS

Uber wins a legal round in Las Vegas. A Nevada judge last week turned down the state attorney general’s request for a temporary restraining order to block ride-sharing service Uber from launching service in Las Vegas. The operation is being opposed by the Nevada Taxicab Authority and the state transportation authority. It’s just the beginning of the legal battle; a hearing on a requested preliminary injunction is set for November 14. But in the meantime, Uber is operating in Las Vegas. Viva!

HOTELS

The Grand Premier Suite at the new Moskva hotel in Moscow

The Grand Premier Suite at the new Four Seasons Hotel Moscow (Photo: Four Seasons)

Four Seasons debuts in Moscow. The old Hotel Moskva, located close to Red Square on central Moscow’s Manezhnaya Square, was reborn last week as the Four Seasons Hotel Moscow. The historic facade was preserved, but the interior was remade, including the hotel’s 180 rooms and suites. It has a 24-hour business center, a fleet of Wi-Fi-equipped BMWs, and a signature Italian restaurant; a spa will open early next year.

Double points at Hilton. Last week, Hilton unveiled a new promotion for HHonors members who sign up online: They can earn double points from now through January 31, beginning with their second stay.

Have you voted in our hotel wi-fi speed poll yet? Read our post about Marriott’s big move this week… Check out the results below after you vote!

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In Case You Missed It…

Look closely and you’ll see the “space ship” part of this aircraft in the middle– it detaches from the larger aircraft to shoot into space. That’s the part that crashed on Friday. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

>Our disturbingly up-close-and-personal photos & video of Virgin Galactic’s spaceship that crashed on Friday.

>Marriott is expanding free basic Wi-Fi for Rewards members who book direct.

>American Airlines revealed plans for merging frequent flyer programs with US Airways.

>JetBlue’s new Mint service drives down JFK-SFO premium fares.

>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

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More United wi-fi + Buh-bye Delta 747s + Virgin’s newest plane + SFO is h-o-t + New Hyatt NYC

October 19, 2014

United’s regional jets to get connected via Gogo (United)

This is Part 2 of this weekend’s Catching up on Travel News with TravelSkills. ICYMI here’s Part 1

United regional jets will get Wi-Fi. United said it will expand in-flight Wi-Fi service to more than 200 of its two-cabin United Express aircraft, including Embraer 170s and 175s, and CRJ700s. The service should be available on some planes before year’s end, with the whole job finished by next summer. “Early next year,” a spokesman said, “United expects to expand personal device entertainment to these aircraft, enabling customers to select from a wide range of movies and television shows to view on their Wi-Fi-enabled iOS and Android devices using United’s mobile app, as well as on laptop computers.” Some good news: Gogo’s wi-fi works very well on smaller aircraft where there are not too many passengers hogging bandwidth. While this installation announcement is great news, United still lags behind other major carriers when it comes to consistent inflight wi-fi.

Just in: Lufthansa’s pilots planning another strike this week.

Delta’s 747s disappearing faster. Like other airlines, Delta is phasing out its 747 fleet– last summer we reported that it was unloading four 747s in the coming year. This week, the carrier announced that it is speeding up that process. Delta’s CEO said the airline’s 747s — used on Pacific routes — should all be gone by 2017. It is acquiring new Airbus A330s to replace the Boeing jumbos. How do you feel about this? Leave your comments below.

Inside San Francisco International's popular Terminal 2 (SFO)

Inside San Francisco International’s popular new Terminal 2 (SFO)

SFO is hot hot hot. The technology boom is playing out at SFO with airlines from around the world clamoring to get in, or expand their service there. Here’s a roundup of all the action:

United’s new nonstop from SFO to Tokyo Haneda starts Oct 26. (It will continue to offer flights to Narita, as will ANA. JAL now flies SFO-HND.)
United added new nonstops to Taipei and Chengdu earlier this year.
Etihad’s new “Jetihad” flights using a Jet Airways 777 to Abu Dhabi start on Nov 18.
Emirates deploys a big A380 on SFO-Dubai (SFO’s longest route) on December 1.
Hawaiian Airlines will fly nonstop SFO-Maui starting November 20.
On Dec 16, China Southern cranks up thrice weekly 787 nonstops to Guangzhou and Wuhan. (Still unconfirmed by carrier…)
Turkish Airlines nonstops to Istanbul start on April 13, 2015.
British Airways new A380 flights to London start on April 2, 2015.
Virgin Atlantic to double its SFO-LHR service for summer months in 2015
Swiss International will increase its “Roche coach” frequencies between Zurich and San Francisco from seven to 13 a week from July 4-August 23, 2015.
On the domestic front, JetBlue’s new flights featuring lie-flat Mint seats crank up on Oct 26. And it adds new nonstops to Las Vegas on January 5.

Foreign carriers boost U.S. service. Subject to government approvals, Ethiopian Airlines plans to launch new 787 service next June between Addis Ababa and Los Angeles three times a week (via Dublin, Ireland, which means you can now fly to Ireland on Ethiopian Airlines) … Effective November 10, Delta’s Skyteam partner KLM will boost its Atlanta-Amsterdam schedule from seven flights a week to 12 … Air France will deploy an Airbus A380 super-jumbo on its Paris-Miami route from December 1 through March 28 … In March 2015, Philippine Airlines will begin new east coast service, flying from Manila to New York JFK via Vancouver four times a week, using a two-class A340-300.

Virgin Atlantic’s newest plane, the 787-9, deployed on Boston-Heathrow. (Photo: Jim Ramsay)

Virgin upgrades transatlantic fleet. Delta’s joint venture partner Virgin Atlantic has taken delivery of its first new 787-9 (the “stretch” version of the 787), and will put it into service October 28 between London Heathrow and Boston six times a week. Over the next few months, Virgin will deploy other new 787-9s from Heathrow to Dulles, Newark and JFK. The aircraft have 31 seats in Upper Class, 198 in economy and 35 in Premium Economy; the latter section has a new “Wander Wall” — “a social space where customers can stretch their legs and mingle with other passengers,” the company said.

London Bonus: Did you know that you can earn 7,500 to 35,000 MileagePlus bonus miles for United or Air Canada flights from the US or Canada to London this fall? To get the miles, register online and book between now and December 12 for trips through December 12.

HOTELS

Hilton’s new brand. What exactly is a “lifestyle brand” in the hotel industry? The definition is decidedly vague, but now Hilton is launching one of its own — Canopy Hotels. The company says the properties will provide “simple, guest-directed service, thoughtful local choices, and comfortable spaces, so guests simply feel better going forward.” (Isn’t that what all hotels do?) They’ll start opening in 2015; Hilton has letters of intent for Canopy properties in Portland,. London, Miami, Washington D.C., San Diego, Nashville, Savannah, Indianapolis, Charlotte, Oklahoma City and Ithaca, N.Y.

The aerie atop the new Hyatt Herald Square in NYC (Photo: Hyatt)

Another new Hyatt in NYC. Just two months after opening its posh Park Hyatt on West 57th Street, Hyatt has cut the ribbon on another new Manhattan property. The 122-room Hyatt Herald Square New York is on West 31st Street between Fifth Avenue and Broadway– a still somewhat gritty area that is now packed with new, primarily “limited service” hotels. This full service Hyatt has three food and beverage outlets including a rooftop cocktail lounge with views of the Midtown skyline.

NOTE: This is Part 2 of this weekend’s Catching up on Travel News with TravelSkills. ICYMI here’s Part 1

Please join the 80,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

In Case You Missed It…

>The intersection of America’s obsession with food and travel.

>Virgin America’s cutting-edge ad agency issued a mind-dulling six-hour online video about a fictional “BLAH Airlines” to show how boring its competitors are.

>Frequent travelers are getting some new perks and facilities at SFO.

>AT&T has a new plan for international calling.

>See Virgin America’s new facilities at Dallas Love Field.

>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

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Ebola-mania + First class transcon fares soar? + Southwest: we’re sorry + Sidecar worth a look

October 18, 2014

Some good common sense advice about Ebola from the World Health Organization

This is Part 1 of our weekend TravelSkills News Roundup… did you read Part 2?

All ebola, all the time. The relentless saturation news coverage of ebola may not bother veteran road warriors, but it is having an impact on the general public. In a new Reuters-Ipsos survey, almost half of the 1,577 respondents said they plan to avoid international air travel. Meanwhile, Frontier Airlines keeps re-cleaning that plane — now out of service — that an ebola victim flew on a week ago, and tracking down some 800 passengers who were on that flight or subsequent ones on that aircraft. The Centers for Disease Control issued guidelines to airlines about dealing with sick passengers and cleaning planes. And other parties are taking their own steps, from the Air Canada flight attendants who said they will start wearing plastic gloves in-flight to individual travelers who are donning everything from face masks to homemade hazmat suits. This in spite of the fact that experts say catching ebola on an aircraft is extremely unlikely.

ATL-California first class fares to soar? Southwest told TravelSkills that the final two-class AirTran flight departs SFO as a redeye to Atlanta on Nov 1, 2014. After that it’s all Southwest-all-the-time with its one class of service for the four-hour flight. With only United and Delta offering first class seats on the route, you can bet those front-of-the-plane fares are going to swell. We’ll keep an eye on it. Right now, you can buy a first class, round trip seat on AirTran, Delta or on SFO-ATL or LAX-ATL for about $1,000-$1,200 round trip. Let’s see how long that lasts post-AirTran. Peering into January, Delta’s first class fares on ATL-SFO are already at about $1,500.

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A Southwest B737 outfitted in a State of California flag livery. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

AirTran/Southwest loyalty merger due soon. You don’t hear much about AirTran any more since Southwest has been relentlessly absorbing the routes of its subsidiary into its own system, but a significant date in the merge is coming up soon. On November 2, the two airlines’ frequent flyer programs — Rapid Rewards and A+ Rewards — will be fully combined. Here’s a handy guide to the things members should know about protecting all their program assets. A Southwest spokesperson told TravelSkills that the AirTran brand will be completely gone by December 28th– by that date all operations will be under the Southwest name and not a single AirTran liveried plane will remain in service.

Southwest says ‘We’re sorry.’ In an unusually frank letter to its best customers, Southwest Airlines has admitted it hasn’t been doing so well with on-time performance lately, and pledged to take steps that will improve the situation — from making sure its first flights of the day leave on schedule to lengthening turnaround times. TravelSkills reader DL received the note and sent us this comment via email: Today I got a letter from Southwest’s “Senior Vice President, Customers.” It was a form letter that described Southwest’s recent troubles with on-time performance, which have stung me for much of 2014 and caused me to consider using other airlines when booking important flights. (I would say that half of my Southwest flights in 2014 were delayed by more than 30 minutes, sometimes by as much as 3 hours.) The letter explained that Southwest was spacing out the time between flights to boost its on-time performance. One wonders whether these new airfare deals [posted earlier this week] are designed to lure back customers who had drifted away. Regardless, I still like the airline and fly them a lot.”

Stay tuned…More important airline news coming TOMORROW in our second installment of Catching up on Travel News with TravelSkills!

CARS

The Sidecar app

Ride-finding service wins SFO approval. While larger competitors Uber and Lyft still await an official nod to start operating at San Francisco International Airport, a smaller firm called Sidecar already has one, and will start airport rides within 30 days. Sidecar will pick up and drop off passengers in the departures area, and its drivers will use the cell phone lot to wait for requests. The firm agreed to pay the airport a per-ride fee similar to the ones regular taxis pay. Interesting: Sidecar drivers set their own prices for each ride and will inform you of the total price BEFORE the ride. Currently, Sidecar operates in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego, Seattle, Chicago, Charlotte NC, Boston, and Washington, D.C. Have you used Sidecar? Would you use it if it were cheaper than Uber? Please leave your comments below.

Flightcar in Seattle. Meanwhile, Flightcar (see our recent post: How to park free at the airport) — which lets business travelers rent out their cars to others while they’re away — has started operating at Seattle-Tacoma International; it already does business at SFO, ATL and BOS.

This is Part 1 of our weekend TravelSkills News Roundup… did you read Part 2?

In Case You Missed It…

>The intersection of America’s obsession with food and travel.

>Virgin America’s cutting-edge ad agency issued a mind-dulling six-hour online video about a fictional “BLAH Airlines” to show how boring its competitors are.

>Frequent travelers are getting some new perks and facilities at SFO.

>AT&T has a new plan for international calling.

>See Virgin America’s new facilities at Dallas Love Field.

>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

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Marriott jams wi-fi + Hilton-AA bond + New InterConti LA + Lufthansa moves at LHR

October 4, 2014

This is part 1 of our weekend catch-up! Part 2 arrives tomorrow…

Marriott’s big, bright, glass-top Gaylord Opryland hotel blocked guest wi-fi (Photo: Marriott)

Marriott caught blocking guests’ wi-fi. The Federal Communications Commission has slapped Marriott with a $600,000 fine for allegedly blocking Wi-Fi access for guests with personal wi-fi hotspots who were attending meetings at the chain’s Opryland Hotel in Nashville last year. The blocked access reportedly affected meeting rooms and ballrooms, but not guest rooms. Why would the hotel do that? Because conference organizers would then have to pay $250 to $1,000 per access point to use the hotel’s wi-fi system. Marriott says it was just trying to protect guests from “rogue wireless hotspots.” We’d love to hear your thoughts about this… please leave them below….

Hilton, AA offer targeted promotion to loyalists. Hilton’s HHonors program is tightening its bond with American’s AAdvantage plan by offering AA Platinum status until January 31, 2015, to selected members who register by October 15. The targeted promotion will let participants extend that Platinum status for another year, and pick up 20,000 HHonors points, if they accumulate 9,000 elite-qualifying AAdvantage miles by January 31.

Here's a mock up of Korean Air's new Wilshire Grand Center in downtown LA

Here’s a mock up of the tippy top of Korean Air’s new Wilshire Grand Center in downtown LA

New InterContinental coming to L.A. The $1.1 billion, 73-floor Wilshire Grand Center in downtown Los Angeles will include a 900-room InterContinental Hotel from the 31st to 73rd floors. Owned by Korean Air and its parent company, the building will be the tallest in the western U.S. when it opens in 2017.

Lufthansa moves at Heathrow. Star Alliance member Lufthansa has joined up with its partner carriers at London Heathrow, moving its operations there last week into the new Terminal 2. Star members United, Air Canada, ANA and Air China moved to T2 when it opened in June and all Star Alliance partners at LHR will be in T2 by the end of October. Lufthansa said its facilities at LHR T2 include “its largest lounge outside Germany” — a Senator and Business Lounge that can accommodate up to 350 travelers in 1,600 square meters. The new London lounge will also welcome Star Alliance Gold Customers as well as those traveling in First or Business Class on any Star Alliance member carrier from Heathrow.

The dining room at British Airway’s swish new lounge at Dulles (Photo: British Airways)

BA enhances IAD service. British Airways has unveiled a new and improved business and first class lounge at Washington Dulles. The 10,000 square foot facility can accommodate up to 200 premium travelers, offering free alcoholic beverages, work areas, showers, a VIP area and dining. The opening of the new lounge was timed to coincide with BA’s introduction of the Airbus A380 on its London Heathrow-Washington Dulles route last week.

Please participate in this week’s poll on how fearful you are about ebola:

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In Case You Missed It…

>Are you ready for BYOD (bring your own device) in-flight entertainment?

>Tracking the ebola risk for air travelers. (please take our fear poll!)

>Chris explains what’s new at Hawaiian Airlines.

>Direct flight? Non-stop? What’s the difference

>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

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Fall hotel promos you can’t ignore

September 9, 2014

Earn burn your HHonors points at Hilton's newest hotel in Waikiki- the Hokulani (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Earn or burn your HHonors points at Hilton’s newest hotel in Waikiki- The Hokulani (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

As Labor Day passes each year and the flood of summer leisure visitors dries up, hotel marketers have traditionally tried to prime the pump of autumn business travel by rolling out special bonus or discount promotions for members of their loyalty programs — and this year is no exception.

Even though the autumn offers are not as rich as we’ve seen in recent years due to higher business travel spending and increasing occupancy, they still shouldn’t be ignored. Here’s a rundown:

Please note that some of these promos are targeted to certain members and may not work for everyone.

InterContinental’s IHG Rewards Club just launched an “Into the Nights” promotion offering members a choice of bonus points, bonus air miles or free nights, based on their stays at its 11 hotel brands from now through December 31. How generous are the bonuses? Hard to say, because they apparently vary from one individual to the next. The company says only that members who register online (at www.ihg.com/freenights) “will receive personalized offers” — although they do mention that the promotion will let members earn “at least two free nights or 50,000 points.”

Marriott Rewards members can earn up to a maximum of 25,000 bonus points when they register online by November 15 in the company’s Megabonus promotion, for stays at any of Marriott’s 15 brands (including Ritz-Carlton) between September 15-January 15. The offer provides double the usual program points for every stay — starting with the second one — during the promotional period, up to the maximum bonus.

Hilton HHonors’ fall promotion, currently in progress, matches Marriott in providing members with double points (for stays through October 31, not November 15) — but it goes a step beyond that by upping the ante to triple points for weekend stays (Friday-Sunday). Hence the promotion’s name: Triple Your Trip. The offer actually started August 1, but the bonus doesn’t kick in for your stays until you are registered prior to check-out. Bonus points are based on the average nightly folio of your total stay. (Caveat: Not all Hilton family properties are taking part in the offer; here’s a list of dozens that aren’t.)

If you belong to Best Western Rewards, you can score 1,000 bonus points per stay from now through November 23 when you book that stay — at any qualified rate — through the group’s website at bestwestern.com. (Elite members get another 500 bonus points on top of that.) Select the Best Value or Web Special rate when you book, and you’ll get up to 20 percent off the hotel’s Flexible Rate. To take advantage of the promotion, members must register online.

Choice Hotels is offering members of its Choice Privileges plan the ability to earn one free night’s stay for every two qualifying stays at Choice brands from September 4 through November 12 when they register online. (Clarification: The “free night” is based on picking a property from the 8,000-point reward level in the program; most require more points than that.) While a single night qualifies as a stay at some Choice brands, the promotion sets a minimum of two nights for qualifying stays at its MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay, Rodeway Inn and Econo Lodge brands. And members who have set airline miles instead of Choice Privileges as their program earning preference are ineligible.

Members of Kimpton Hotels’ new Kimpton Karma Rewards plan should act fast to take advantage of its Luxe Liberation offer. They can snag a discount of up to 20 percent when they stay in a Kimpton suite from now through October 31 — but the booking deadline is September 13.

Starwood has a fall promotion called Triple Crave that rewards Preferred Guest members for dining at many of its hotel restaurants. It offers triple SPG points for restaurant purchases of $50 or more Monday through Thursday from now throughDecember 30, and requires online registration. The site has a link to a list of participating restaurants worldwide, including 144 in the U.S. For weekend stays, Starwood also has launched its More For You campaign offering double or triple points for weekend stays.

Country Inns & Suites by Carlson will serve up double Club Carlson Gold Points — along with early check-in or late check-out — to members who book a “Business Package” stay at its North American properties from now through December 31. The Business Package rate also provides a hot breakfast, high-speed Internet, use of the fitness and business centers and a daily newspaper.

With the Sweet Dreams Sweet Rewards promo, Hyatt Gold Passport members earn 5,000 Hyatt Gold Passport bonus points after the first five nights and “thousands more” for every additional five nights at any Hyatt hotel worldwide from September 1 through November 30, 2014. After 20 nights, that’s 50,000 bonus points.

–Jim Glab

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Free inflight entertainment + Delta dumping 747s + United hub reshuffle + Uber for business

August 3, 2014

A Delta 747-400. Like many other airlines, Delta is getting rid of four of these graceful, gas guzzling old birds. (Photo: Delta)

AIRLINES

Delta debuts free entertainment. Delta last week rolled out a big perk for passengers: Free in-flight entertainment options on all its domestic aircraft — including two-class regional jets — for flights longer than 90 minutes, and on all international flights as well. Called Delta Studio, the service lets customers in all classes access free movies, TV shows, music and games via seat-back screens or by streaming to personal electronic devices through onboard Wi-Fi … And Delta said it will now allow passengers on international flights as well as domestic to keep using their personal electronic devices from gate to gate.

Delta dumping four 747s. Delta announced changes in its Asia/Pacific network, including getting rid of four of its 16 Boeing 747s. This means that Atlanta and Los Angeles will lose Delta 747s currently deployed on nonstops to Tokyo on September 30. Detroit will lose the 747 on the nonstop to Nagoya, and the 747 on Tokyo-Hong Kong will fly away in October according to aviation writer Christine Negroni. The 747s will be replaced by smaller, more fuel efficient B777s and A330s. Several airlines around the world have sadly begun putting the graceful old 747 out to pasture. For example, later this month, Cathay Pacific will say goodbye to its last remaining 747 with a farewell luncheon at San Francisco International. In case you missed it, here’s a TravelSkills post from earlier this year about 747s flying away…

Here’s part of the invite we received from Cathay Pacific to bid farewell to its last 747. Stay tuned to TravelSkills for a full report from the event!

United plans hub reshuffling. United reportedly plans to overhaul flight schedules at its Chicago O’Hare, Denver and Houston hubs, compressing arrivals and departures into periodic clusters, or “banks,” instead of spreading them evenly throughout the day, in an effort to boost profitability. (American earlier this year revealed plans to do the same.) The airline is also revising its regional fleet — as are other major carriers — to replace 50-seat jets with larger models, which will lead to the elimination of some smaller markets.

JetBlue eyes Boston for Mint service. JetBlue has high hopes that its new Mint business cabins on the JFK-LAX route — and starting this fall, on JFK-SFO — will produce so much extra revenue that it will be worth expanding to other transcon markets. And the airline has set its sights on Boston for the first round of expansion. Chief Executive David Barger said it’s “not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when” JetBlue will begin SFO-BOS and LAX-BOS flights with the new premium cabin — which the airline is pricing well below the business cabins of major competitors.

Mod new cabin design for Embraer from Priestman-Goode (Love those Embraer windows!)

A solution to carry-on space wars? In a project for aircraft manufacturer Embraer, a London-based design firm has come up with a new cabin configuration that guarantees every passenger will find a place to put his carry-on bag. The plan also seeks to humanize lavatories with elements like glass tiles, touchless faucets and soft-close doors.

United’s sly safety video. Some airlines have started competing to see who can come up with the most creative safety video shown to passengers after boarding, and the latest entry is from United. The clever new UA video puts flight attendants into exotic or unusual locations as they explain the safety procedures. Take a look, and tell us what you think of it.

HOTELS

Hilton’s digital revolution. By the end of this year, members of Hilton’s HHonors program will be able to use a mobile app to check in, select a specific room, and check out at 4,000 hotels worldwide across 11 Hilton brands. The technology will also let HHonors guests use smartphones or tablets to buy room upgrades and request specific room amenities before arrival. And in 2015, Hilton said, “the company will begin to equip its hotel rooms with the technology for doors to be unlocked with guests’ smartphones, enabling them to go straight to their rooms upon arrival.”

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How fast is your Wi-Fi? A crafty new online service called Hotelwifitest offers users an inside look at just how fast their in-room Wi-Fi really is. Users can test the connection speed themselves and then share it with the site, which compiles the data to calculate the most likely speed that guests can expect to find after they check in.

BUSINESS TRAVEL

Airbnb, Uber seek business travelers. Airbnb, the booking service for thousands of unique private accommodations, last week unveiled plans to broaden its market to road warriors: Starting this fall, it will integrate with Concur’s TripLink, which will automatically bring Airbnb booking data into corporate expense reporting. It also opened up a separate booking area for the new market called Business Travel on Airbnb. Meanwhile, ride-finding service Uber is also linking up with Concur, and Uber’s new corporate booking service will permit road warriors to pay for their rides with company accounts. (Try Uber for the first time and get a $30 discount by clicking here or on the ad to the right.)

In Case You Missed It…

>San Francisco-based Virgin America finally goes public. Would you invest in Virgin or any other airline? Why/not?

>The reincarnation of low-cost carrier PEOPLExpress has started service between Atlanta and Newport News/Williamsburg, Va. (Not much of a biz travel player, but newsy nonetheless…)

>Check out the latest and greatest business class seating options. (Chris’s photo slideshow from GBTA convention)

>Strategies: How to catch an earlier flight without paying a fee.

–Jim Glab & Chris McGinnis

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Hilton’s Conrad snags posh new London hotel

July 23, 2014

A room at the Conrad London hotel (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

A room at the InterConti– soon-to-be Conrad London Westminster hotel (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Hilton’s Conrad brand announced today that it will take over the InterContinental Westminster, which just opened in December 2012. The new Hilton Conrad London Westminster will make its debut in September.

The hotel has a central London location, service, and style business travelers require. It also has a handsome restaurant and bar with a type of food you would not expect to find across the pond.

While in the UK over the holidays in 2013, I checked in at the hotel for two nights.

The hotel is located in a quiet corner of London near Buckingham Palace (Chris McGinnis)

>The 256-room hotel opened as an InterContinental in early December 2012 in a quiet, yet very central area of London, in between Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. It’s next door to New Scotland Yard. It will become a Conrad this starting September 14 2014.

>The new hotel was built inside a group of 19^th century buildings called the Queen Anne’s Chambers—so even though it looks traditional red-brick-London on the outside, everything inside is modern and brand new. As a matter of fact, when I was there, rooms on two floors of the hotel were still under construction.

>Room rates are currently pegged at about $450 per night in August, and since it will soon be part of Hilton, you will be able to earn and burn HHonors points here.

The new InterContinental Westminster near Buckingham Palace. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

The InterContinental Westminster near Buckingham Palace will soon be the Hilton Conrad Westminster. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

>This is one of the few luxury hotels in London that offers free wi-fi—and since the hotel is new, it has fat, fast pipes for quick and easy downloading, streaming, etc. (No word yet on whether Conrad will offer free wi-fi.)

>Rooms are decorated in a pale palette of blondes, beige and gold, with classy wood, leather, marble and chrome finishes, which keeps the rooms bright—a good thing since most windows in the low-slung (6 story) building look out to other buildings across alleyways and streets or into light wells.

>Bathrooms are big, modern and bright with separate tubs and showers. However, I was not a fan of the large, heavy, sliding doors separating the bathroom from the sleeping room. They seem awkwardly heavy, and not very soundproof, which can be important when more than one person is in the room.

>Its fresh-faced, young, and professional staff is energetic, highly trained– delays in opening the hotel meant more training time for employees.

A lovely, quiet parlour off the main lobby area. (Chris McGinnis)

>Since the hotel hopes to attract London’s political set, the lobby and common areas are all connected, and designed to see and be seen. For example, when you walk in to the chic limestone, sky-lit lobby, you can look through to Emmeline’s, an elegant tea and champagne bar, then through that to Blue Boar Smokehouse, the hotel restaurant and bar. (No word yet on if or how Conrad will change the restaurants.)

>Art and interior design are inspired by the hotel’s location. For example, carpet in the corridors sports an unusual fingerprint design (for the spooks in Scotland Yard next door). Most of the paintings and sculpture include characters from London’s rich political scene, past and present—for example, there are busts are Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair and London’s blustery mayor, Boris Johnson.

>There’s a gym and fitness center in the basement.

Umm. Pulled pork on a silver platter at Blue Boar Restaurant & Bar. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

>It felt a bit odd for me, someone who grew up in the BBQ-sauce-soaked South, to dine on smoke ribs, pulled pork, baked beans and cole slaw in London. But I did, and loved it! In typical British style, the, the BBQ at the hotel’s Blue Boar Smokehouse is served on (get this…) a silver platter. And in another hat tip to British tastes, the restaurant offers pulled lamb. Kudos to the chef Jon Ingram, who served up sweet, smoky and moist pulled pork, and spare ribs charred and spread with just the right amount of sauce. To finish, a classy finger bowl is provided to rinse sticky fingers.

>The Blue Boar Bar, with green leather love seats, plaid loungers, wooden floors and a full bar looked like it would be great fun with a crowd. But when we were there, parliamentarians were on Christmas break, so it was quiet.

>Overall, The InterContinental Westminster is a very nice, new hotel in a quiet corner of London. It will be interesting to watch how it transforms into a Conrad.

>The neighborhood around the hotel is a hotspot for new hotels… nearby you’ll find the St Ermin’s hotel and 41 Hotel both opened within the last year and both worth a look-see!

–Chris McGinnis

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>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

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>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

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Please join the 85,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

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>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

Like what you just read? Then say so! Scroll back up to the top and LIKE the post on Facebook, post it on Linked In and/or tweet it!

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>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

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>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

What are the two best all-around credit cards? Both currently offer 40,000 mile sign up bonuses!

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>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

Please join the 85,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

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>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

Extra Bonus! Here’s an easy way to top off your Chase Ultimate Rewards balance with 20,000 points!

Please join the 80,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

Please join the 80,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!

***Like what you just read? Then say so! Scroll back up to the top and* *LIKE the post on Facebook, post it on Linked In and/or tweet it!***

***Like what you just read? Then say so! Scroll back up to the top and* *LIKE the post on Facebook, post it on Linked In and/or tweet it!***

***Like what you just read? Then say so! Scroll back up to the top and* *LIKE the post on Facebook, post it on Linked In and/or tweet it!***

***Like what you just read? Then say so! Scroll back up to the top and* *LIKE the post on Facebook, post it on Linked In and/or tweet it!***

***Like what you just read? Then say so! Scroll back up to the top and* *LIKE the post on Facebook, post it on Linked In and/or tweet it!***

***Like what you just read? Then say so! Scroll back up to the top and* *LIKE the post on Facebook, post it on Linked In and/or tweet it!***

***Like what you just read? Then say so! Scroll back up to the top and* *LIKE the post on Facebook, post it on Linked In and/or tweet it!***