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Alaska Airlines flies away from Havana, Cuba in January

Alaska Airlines Havana, Cuba

Sun is setting on Alaska Airlines nonstop flights to Cuba (Photo at Havana’s Jose Marti International: Chris McGinnis)

Today Alaska Airlines announced that it will scuttle its daily nonstop flights between Los Angeles International Airport and Havana, Cuba on January 22, 2018. That’s slightly over a year since the carrier launched flights on January 5, 2017.

Alaska’s John Kirby told TravelSkills that demand for LAX-HAV had declined precipitously in recent months after a relatively strong spring and summer. “We think pent up demand for travel to Cuba has been satisfied,” he said. In spring and early summer Kirby said Alaska’s load factor was in the 70-80 percent range, but after that it declined to under 50 percent.

Then last week, the Trump administration reversed Obama’s more relaxed rules for travel to the island, making it more unwieldy and difficult for Americans to get there. That seems to have been the nail in the coffin for the service.

Don’t miss: TravelSkills Trip Report from the inaugural LAX-HAV flight on Alaska Air

Cuba welcome

Despite recent changes in regulations, cruise ships from US ports will still sail to Cuba (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

For those still interested in making the trip, LAX-HAV fares are currently running at about $323 round trip— not bad for a 4-5-hour, 2,300 mile flight in each direction. Kirby said that Mileage Plan program redemptions (starting at 35,000 miles round trip) for flights to Havana were insignificant over the last year.

The Boeing 737 used on the Havana flights will be re-deployed on a West Coast run (likely Seattle-Orange County) where the carrier is experiencing strong demand.

In a statement, Alaska Air said, “About 80 percent of Alaska’s flyers to Havana visited under a U.S. allowance for individual ‘people-to-people’ educational travel. Changes to U.S. policy last week eliminated that allowance. Given the changes in Cuba travel policies, the airline will redeploy these resources to other markets the airline serves where demand continues to be strong.”

It remains to be seen how or if the Trump administration will enforce the new rules. Some think that the move to tighten rules might only be window dressing to placate the mostly pro-Trump Cuban American community in South Florida. Stay tuned– “don’t ask, don’t tell” could be the new reality for American’s hoping to travel to Cuba.

As the slow winter months approach, I expect we’ll see even more reductions on nonstop flights between the US and Cuba.

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Coming to Washington, DC & SF: An anti-Trump hotel

Rendering of the exterior of the Eaton Workshop hotel in Washington, previously a Four Points on K & 12th. (Image:Gachot Studios/Eaton Workshop)

The year-old Trump International Hotel in Washington D.C. has become the de facto gathering place of choice for right-wing, pro-Trump politicians and lobbyists. So should the Left have its own hotel in the nation’s capital?

Pretty soon, it will.

It’s called Eaton Workshop, a 209-room property located just north of the National Mall at 12th and K streets that’s expected to open sometime next spring.

The hotel will inhabit what was previously a Four Points hotel, as you can see on TripAdvisor.

Bloomberg News is calling it “the world’s first politically motivated hotel.” It’s the brain child of Katherine Lo, whose father runs Hong Kong-based Langham Hospitality Group, the parent of Langham Hotels. And it’s expected to be the first in a chain of similar hotels, with another one opening in Hong Kong later next year, followed by newly-built locations in San Francisco and Seattle.

Eaton Workshop describes itself as “a new global brand merging hospitality with progressive social change.”

Lo told Fast Company that “Pretty much anyone can stay there…but we do believe that [the customer base] is almost self-selecting,” since Eaton is gearing itself toward leftist beliefs.

The hotel will have a liberally stocked library. (Image: Gachot Studios/Eaton Workshop)

The Eaton Workshop will weave progressive and liberal ideas into the guest experience in various ways, e.g.

  • TV screens in the lobby broadcasting vintage footage from the 2012 and 2016 elections.
  • A series of liberal-oriented talks and lectures open to guests and to the public, and streamed as podcasts.
  • Specially created works of art that emphasize progressive themes.
  • Providing “a co-working space” for progressive groups and activists.
  • Creating a wellness program with holistic treatments (yoga and meditation classes, acupuncture, etc.) aimed at the guest’s “inner health” rather than the traditional workout room and spa services.
  • Hosting art, film and music events with a focus on social change.

Eaton Workshop’s website describes its new lodging concept as “a hybrid model of a hotel, co-working members club, and wellness center, with extensive content and cultural programming supporting the intersection of arts, consciousness and impact. As a gathering place for an inclusive tribe of change-makers and creatives, Eaton Workshop invites activists, artists and entrepreneurs from around the world to instigate meaningful and positive initiatives on both a local and macro scale, as well as to hang out, indulge and follow their bliss.”

The hotel’s small and simple front desk. (Image: Gachot Studios/Eaton Workshop)

Unlike the red-meat specialties (or breakfast popovers) at the Trump Hotel’s steakhouse, the Eaton Workshop’s restaurant menu is expected to show an emphasis on vegetables grown in the property’s own garden, and guest rooms will have information on how to contact members of Congress. You get the picture.

The hotel will also have one non-political amenity that almost all new urban hotels have these days: a rooftop bar.

No word yet on rates.

Would you stay at the Eaton hotel in Washington or elsewhere? Please leave your comments below. And even though we don’t normally take political comments on TravelSkills, they are likely unavoidable in a post like this!

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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Travel restrictions are back for Cuba-bound Americans; 80 hotels off limits

Kempinski Hotel Havana

Americans can’t stay at the the gorgeous new $500/night Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski recently opened on Havana’s Parque Central (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

It was only in last year that U.S. airlines got the right to operate scheduled flights to Cuba. But now the future of that service might be in doubt due to new travel restrictions imposed by the Trump Administration that take effect this week.

The new rules do not ban or restrict U.S. airlines or cruise lines from operating in Cuba. But they do impose strict new limits on the kind of trips Americans can take to the island – and that could dampen demand to the point where airlines reduce or eliminate flight schedules there. (Even before the new rules, some U.S. carriers had already cut back their schedules to Cuba because they had overestimated demand.)

The new regulations also bar Americans from staying at dozens of hotels or shopping in stores that the U.S. says are owned by commercial entities controlled by the Cuban military. The Dept of State amassed a list of nearly 80 hotels now off-limits to Americans, including the newest, nicest hotel in town, the gorgeous sugar-white Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski in central Havana which goes for about $500 per night. (In a country where citizens earn about $1 per day.) Instead, the Washington Post reports, “the new regulations encourage Americans to stay in rooms rented by private citizens and to eat in private restaurants that have been allowed for a number of years as part of a growing Cuban private sector.” Which means stays at private casas particulares (via Airbnb) and meals at family-run paladares are still okay. Also, none of the new Marriott/Starwood hotels appear on the banned list.

Cuba kiss Chris McGinnis

TravelSkills editor Chris McGinnis gets a warm welcome in Havana in 2016 in a rare window of opportunity for American travel to Cuba (Photo: TravelSkills)

The biggest impact is likely to come from the Administration’s decision to put a halt to individual “people-to-people” travel that was allowed up until this week, along with other non-academic individual trips.

Instead, Americans who want to go to Cuba will now have to travel as part of a group for a purpose approved by the Treasury Department; each group must be accompanied by someone from the tour operator or organization sponsoring the trip– similar to how the few American visited Cuba prior to Obama’s reestablishment of diplomatic relations and “don’t ask don’t tell” rules for Americans traveling there.

Even under the previous rules, individual vacation trips were not officially allowed, since a U.S. trade embargo remained in place. But U.S. travelers could self-identify their trips as falling into one of many approved categories, but enforcement was lax to non-existent. Most Americans traveled to Cuba just like they traveled to any other country in the world.

During a trip to Cuba in January, I wondered if we were there in a rare window of opportunity- CLICK PHOTO to read that post (Chris McGinnis)

Thankfully, those who already booked an upcoming flight or hotel stay in Cuba before the new rules took effect this week are exempted for the purposes of that trip. More details about the new restrictions are now on the Treasury Department website.

What’s important to know is that even after Obama normalized diplomatic relations with Cuba, the trade embargo remained in effect. Only at act of Congress can get rid of that, so don’t expect travel to Cuba to get easier any time soon.

What do you think about restrictions on American travel to Cuba? Step in the right direction or step back in time? Please leave your comments below. 

 

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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Most popular: Delta 747 + Fare sale + New routes + Longest United flight + New Bev Hills hotel

United Airlines showing its true colors for Pride month (Image: United)

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

1 Reader Report: Final ride on a Delta 747

2 Big late summer/fall airfare sale takes off (Expired)

3 Routes: Southwest, AA, Delta, Alaska, + a new 787 route

4 Routes: JetBlue to Europe + AA, Delta, Norwegian, United, Avianca, Etihad

5 Two rare birds land by the Bay- with ultra cheap fares

6 Major transformation at Denver International + more airport news

7 Airports ask Trump for a raise, but you’ll pay for it

8 United’s longest flight won’t have this

9 3 U.S. cities get cheap new nonstops to Rome

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

Don’t miss: Global travelers shrug off political, terror concerns

TravelSkills editor Chris McGinnis took some time off for a family reunion in North Carolina this week at the High Hampton Inn– nice! And not like any Hampton Inn he’s ever stayed in before!

Blue Ridge Mountain time #travel #northcarolina #mountains #blueridge #summer

A post shared by Chris McGinnis (@chrisjmcginnis) on

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

Yellow Taxi sharing goes live in NYC

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Best Western testing in-room Alexa

PricewaterhouseCoopers sees an end to U.S. airline consolidation

Hilton picks AmEx as exclusive provider of Honors  credit cards

Delta recruits L.A. celebrity chefs for Delta One transcon in-fight service

Gogo says its high-speed 2Ku satellite Wi-Fi service is now on more than 200 aircraft

Here are the 20 longest flights operated by U.S. carriers

British Airways cabin crews plan four-day walkout in mid-June

KLM starts offering boarding passes, flight status updates via Twitter

Wyndham Hotels starts a new brand for three- and four-star independent properties

Take a look at the new ‘Canopy Park’ coming to Singapore’s Changi Airport

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Global travelers shrug off political, terror concerns

No sign of a Trump Slump yet in international visitor arrivals to the U.S. (Image: Jim Glab)

The U.S. travel industry has been predicting a “Trump slump” – i.e., a drop-off in foreign visitors due to the Administration’s tougher entry policies – and terrorist events in Europe were also expected to inhibit international travel. But so far, none of that seems to be happening.

U.S. travel officials expected to see evidence of the so-called Trump slump starting in April, following the Administration’s attempts – subsequently thwarted by the courts – to ban arrivals from several Muslim-majority countries and to generally impose “extreme vetting” on foreign arrivals.

But the U.S. Travel Association (USTA) said this week that instead of dropping, the number of foreign visitors to the U.S. actually increased in April by 4 percent over the same month a year ago.

USTA president Roger Dow admitted that the organization is “surprised” by that increase, citing it as ”evidence of the U.S. travel sector’s remarkable resilience.” Still, he urged the Trump Administration to make it clear that foreign visitors are still welcome.

“Even though we’re encouraged by these strong figures, we’ll continue to urge the administration to more publicly send the message that while the U.S. is closed to terror, it remains open for business,” Dow said. “We should not take it for granted that this trend will sustain, and the 15.3 million American jobs that depend on travel are not worth putting at risk. A simple and clear welcome message will go a long way in that regard.”

That rise in international arrivals did not hold true in all markets. April arrivals from the U.K. were down 6 percent – and that was well before the latest flap between Trump and London’s mayor. The U.S. ban on in-cabin laptops on flights from the Middle East and North Africa is also likely hurting traveler numbers in those markets, as evidenced by Emirates’ recent decision to scale back flight frequencies to the U.S.

Terror events in Europe haven’t hurt tourism either. (Image: Jim Glab)

The travel industry news website Skift.com reported a similar finding from the annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) – the leading global airline trade organization — this week in Cancun. Skift interviewed airline CEOs from Europe and Latin America and found no indications of a Trump slump in their traffic to the U.S.

Bloomberg News was also at the IATA conference, and its interviews with the chiefs of International Airlines Group (parent of British Airways and Iberia) and Lufthansa likewise found no evidence that that the latest terror attacks in Europe were having a negative impact on inbound traffic. Similar events in previous years were usually followed by a fall-off in visitors.

“It would be terrible if people start just considering that this is routine or normal, but we haven’t seen an impact on bookings,” IAG CEO Willie Walsh told Bloomberg News. “In the past, we would expect it to have some impact, but we haven’t seen anything.”

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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Airports ask Trump for a raise- but you’ll pay for it

A reconstruction of New York’s JFK Airport is on the drawing boards — pending financing. (Image: New York Governor’s Office)

Remember the airport “passenger facility charge” (PFC)? It’s a user fee on each U.S. airline ticket used to improve and upgrade airports; it has been capped at $4.50 for more than 15 years, and airports are now asking the Trump administration to lift that limit so they can charge more.

The two leading airport industry trade and lobbying groups – Airports Council International-North America and the American Association of Airport Executives – sent a letter  to the White House last week asking Trump to support elimination of the $4.50 cap. Airports want to be able to charge up to $8.50 per ticket so they can move ahead with badly needed infrastructure improvements.

“It is clear that doing away with this outdated and unnecessary federal restriction would allow airports to become more financially independent from the federal government and help them leverage private sector funding for significant capital projects – goals that correspond directly with principles you have identified for an eventual infrastructure investment package,” the groups wrote.

The airports argued that eliminating the ceiling on PFCs would reduce their dependence on federal funding for improvement projects and would help them secure more private sector funding – something Trump has advocated in proposing a major infrastructure spending program.

Construction of a new LaGuardia Airport secured lots of private sector financing. (Image: New York Governor’s Office)

They cited the example of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and its $4 billion reconstruction of LaGuardia Airport. The airport is providing $1.5 billion, including $1 billion from passenger facility charges, and securing the rest from the private sector rather than the government.

“In other words, the PANYNJ was able to use PFC revenue to leverage private investment,” the airports wrote. “Eliminating the cap could open the door for even more private investment.”

“Eliminating this unnecessary and antiquated federal restriction would allow airports to finance a greater share of capital projects with local funds instead of scarce federal resources,” they said.

There’s already a bill in Congress that would get rid of the PFC cap, according to The Hill, although it would also require budget cuts for the federal Airport Improvement Program. The airline industry has traditionally opposed any increase in airport PFCs since it would raise ticket prices– and could impact demand.

What do you think? Would you be willing to pay more for your airline tickets to fund better airport infrastructure? Please leave your comments below. 

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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Emirates cuts flights to US

TravelSkills editor Chris McGinnis having fun with Emirates flight attendants during the A380 tour at SFO

Today Dubai-based Emirates Airline announced that it would cut frequencies to five US cities in the wake of tanking demand due to the laptop ban and Trump’s attempts to ban travelers from certain Muslim countries.

It’s important to note that Emirates is only cutting back on service– but not eliminating it on flights between Dubai and Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle, Orlando and Ft Lauderdale. The cutbacks (25 flights total) go into effect in May and June. So you can still “get there from here” but it won’t be as convenient.

Emirates’s service to other US cities will (so far) not be affected. It also flies to Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC. Late last year Emirates closed most of its US sales and marketing offices, laying off workers.

A sea of business class seats on the Emirates A380 upper deck– 76 of them, all true lie-flat (Photo: Chris McGinnis(

U.S. Carriers have been flighting against the incursion of the big three Middle East carriers (ME3) for years, so this could be a sign that those efforts, along with recent actions by Trump, are succeeding.  The two other ME3 carriers are Etihad and Qatar Airways.

Etihad has already been scaling back in the US— for example, its B777 nonstops between SFO and Abu Dhabi are down to just 2-3 times per week. It also announced layoffs and other cutbacks back in December.

Since much of the ME3 carriers business is involved in transporting people to and from India, carriers that fly there are likely beneficiaries. For example, Air India is likely killing it on the SFO-Delhi route. Lufthansa is no doubt lapping up the biz on its many connecting flights from the US which continue on to  India. From the west coast, Asian carriers such as Cathay Pacific are likely getting travelers to India via its hub in Hong Kong.

Check out what Delta posted today on its website about this as part of its Partnership for Open & Fair Skies.

Don’t miss! The opulent party Emirates threw in SF to welcome its A380

Emirates laid out its plans in a statement to Business Insider: “Emirates can confirm that we will be reducing flights to five of the 12 US cities we currently serve. From 1 May and 23 May respectively, our Fort Lauderdale and Orlando operations will move from daily services to five a week. From 1 and 2 June respectively, our Seattle and Boston operations will move from twice-daily services, to a daily service. From 1 July, our operations to Los Angeles will move from twice-daily to a daily service.”

How do you feel about this? Are you a frequent flier on Emirates or other gulf carriers? 

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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Most popular: United 747s + WOW review + Amex Platinum + Trump + Boarding rules

Carmel beach

I used my new Navdy device to help find the way to Carmel this weekend. Wow! Winter in California’s pretty nice! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

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

1 Crazy but true- Seriously! United flies Boeing 747 SFO-LAX

2 So what’s WOW like? Reader Report: WOW Air to Iceland in economy class

3 The Queen! United, Delta 747 schedule: final flights

Upstairs in the 747 bubble: United business class  (Photo: United)

4 22% price increase for what? Time to reconsider Amex Platinum card?

5 Routes: Swiss to SFO + Lufthansa, Aeromexico, Hainan, Delta/KLM, Air Canada

6 Check out the angry comments- “Trump slump” means more great travel deals

7 United’s newest, shortest flight- United: 2nd Polaris route + SFO-Munich + more domestic flights

8 Here we go again… Another try at orderly boarding

9 A brand new Virgin hotel- San Francisco’s overheated hotel scene could cool off

10 Something for real road warriors- Heads up: Trying out Navdy in my car

Don’t miss: 6 smart reasons to try Best Western Rewards!

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

Cathay Pacific introduced it’s own brand of beer made to taste best at 35,000 feet (Photo: Cathay Pacific)

Named after “Betsy”, Cathay Pacific’s first aircraft, Betsy Beer will be first served to First and Business Class passengers onboard flights between Hong Kong and destinations in the UK this spring but will eventually make its way to U.S. flights.

Things you may not know about searching for airfares online

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The King of Saudi Arabia Is Traveling to Indonesia With 506 Tons of Luggage

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E.U. Parliament wants to require U.S. visitors to obtain visas

Delta Private Jets expands its fleet

App helps travelers calculate air fare fee add-ons

Mouse causes four-hour delay for British Airways flight to San Francisco

Copenhagen Airport opens pay-per-use lounge for long-haul passengers

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ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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Trump ban hitting travel business

International trips by U.S. road warriors could be on hold during the battle over Trump's travel ban. (Image: Jim Glab)

International trips by U.S. road warriors could be on hold during the battle over Trump’s travel ban. (Image: Jim Glab)

Even though President Donald Trump’s order banning travel to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority nations was temporarily blocked again this week by a federal appeals court, an influential travel organization says international corporate travel will continue to suffer regardless of the outcome of the ongoing court battle.

The Global Business Travel Association this week released industry data gathered after the ban was introduced. It said that in the week after the ban’s sudden issuance, system-wide business travel transactions in the U.S. declined by 2.2 percent from the previous week, after showing a growth rate of 1.2 percent in the week before the ban.

In that single week after the ban, some $185 million in business travel bookings were lost “as the uncertainty surrounding travel in general had a rippling effect on traveler confidence,” GBTA said.

The organization noted that the President’s order “had a significant disproportionate effect on international travel,” which accounts for 12.7 percent of U.S. business travel.

As long as the ban continues to be litigated, business travel will continue to suffer, GBTA said. On Friday, President Trump suggested that he has other plans or options in the works to protect the US from terrorism, but it remains to be seen how these moves might affect travel.

If the courts uphold the ban and reinstates it, that “will clearly cause a rippling effect through the travel industry, ultimately hurting the economy,” GBTA said. “It also unleashes travel disruption like we saw when the order was first implemented,” resulting in the delay or cancellation of many business trips.

Will Middle Eastern airports like Dubai's see fewer U.S. business travelers this year? (Image: Emirates)

Will Middle Eastern airports like Dubai’s see fewer U.S. business travelers this year? (Image: Emirates)

But the appellate court’s decision to keep blocking the ban pending trial or further appeal is also “a losing situation for the business travel industry,” GBTA said, because “the uncertainty it will create as we await an appeal to the Supreme Court will continue to make its mark. Advanced bookings will likely slow as travel professionals cannot be sure if and when the ban will be reinstated. Meetings and events may be cancelled altogether.”

As long as a “cloud of uncertainty” hangs over the ultimate outcome of the fight, GBTA said, “large corporations and small businesses alike will suffer.” It said international outbound business travel has been “the biggest driver of our economic recovery of the past seven years.”

GBTA called on the Trump Administration “to pause this travel ban action, reassess its path forward with key stakeholders, and preserve both our national security and our economy for the future.”

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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Emirates says Delta tantrum led to a six-hour flight delay

An Emirates 777 was delayed for six hours at Seattle during a search for a spare part. (Image: Emirates)

An Emirates 777 was delayed for six hours at Seattle during a search for a spare part. (Image: Emirates)

How much does Delta hate the Big Three Middle Eastern airlines? Apparently quite a bit, based on a new allegation from Emirates.

Last spring, Delta was so upset about Qatar Airways holding a special event in Atlanta’s historic Fox Theater that Delta canceled its sponsorship of the venue.  And now Emirates is charging that an apparent snit by Delta officials caused a six-hour delay in an Emirates departure from Seattle to Dubai this week.

According to Bloomberg News, an Emirates 777 at Seattle had a mechanical problem that required the replacement of a minor part in its hydraulic system. Since Emirates has no significant maintenance presence at SEA, it looked to other airlines there for a replacement part and found one at Delta. This is said to be common practice among airlines regardless of their competitive relationships.

Bloomberg said Delta’s local engineering office provided the $300 part, and it was installed on the Emirates 777 – but Emirates said that a Delta official at Atlanta headquarters called and ordered Seattle employees to take back the part. A Delta spokesman told Bloomberg that the part in question was the only one of that type Delta had at Seattle, so it had to keep the part in case it needed it.

Emirates then had to scramble around to find the spare part somewhere else, and eventually located one Alaska Airlines, which is a code-sharing partner of the Dubai-based carrier. The result of the situation was a departure delay of almost six and a half hours for the Emirates flight.

Atlanta's Fox Theater lost Delta's sponsorship after Qatar Airways held a party there last year. (Image: Fox Theater)

Atlanta’s Fox Theater lost Delta’s sponsorship after Qatar Airways held a party there last year. (Image: Fox Theater)

Delta, American and United have been trying for many months to get the U.S. government to clamp down on Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways by restricting their access to U.S. markets. The U.S. carriers allege that their Middle Eastern rivals are unfairly subsidized by their governments.

The CEOs of United and Delta, along with other carrier chiefs, met with President Donald Trump this week (American’s CEO had a scheduling conflict) and raised the issue of unfair competition from the Gulf States airlines. But according to news coverage of the meeting, Trump reportedly declined to do anything to block the Middle Eastern airlines, citing their large purchases of U.S.-made aircraft and engines, as well as other investments in the U.S. by their governments.

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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Ultra-cheap transatlantic fares for 2 new cities

Norwegian plans to fly 737 MAX aircraft to Europe from Providence's T.F. Green Airport. (Image: T.F. Green Airport)

Norwegian plans to fly 737 MAX aircraft to Europe from Providence’s T.F. Green Airport. (Image: T.F. Green Airport)

Ultra-low-cost Norwegian Air intends to continue its relentless U.S. expansion from additional gateway airports – unless the Trump Administration steps in to block it.

Norwegian confirmed this week that the second U.S. base for its new 737 MAX transatlantic flights will be Providence, Rhode Island’s T.F. Green Airport (PVD). Meanwhile, the carrier’s CEO suggested he would like to add new West Coast 787 service from Seattle-Tacoma as well.

In December, word came out that the first U.S. gateway for Norwegian’s 737 MAX operations will be Stewart Airport, located at Newburgh, N.Y., some 60 miles north of New York City. The carrier will reportedly offer base fares as low as $69 one-way to Scotland, Ireland, England and Norway, operating up to 21 flights a week from Stewart starting in June. The 737 MAX is a new fuel-efficient version of the single-aisle plane that has greater range than its predecessors.

A Boeing 737 MAX in Norwegian livery. (Image: Boeing)

A Boeing 737 MAX in Norwegian livery. (Image: Boeing)

Norwegian confirmed to USA Today this week that its second 737 MAX base will be Providence, which can draw business from the nearby Boston market. The airline had also been considering Hartford, Conn. and Portsmouth, N.H. as options.

It did not reveal any specific route plans for Providence. Providence is about a three hours east of Newburgh by car, and about a hour south of Boston

Separately, Norwegian chief executive Bjorn Kjos told the Seattle Times that subject to government approval, he wants to begin new 787 Dreamliner flights from Seattle to London. (Currently, Delta, Virgin and British Airways have a lock on nonstops between Seattle and London.)

The airline is due to take delivery of nine more 787-9s this year, along with half a dozen 737 MAX aircraft. Norwegian already flies to London Gatwick from Oakland, Los Angeles, New York JFK, Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando.

In other developments, Norwegian is negotiating with European carriers Ryanair and EasyJet about the creation of a low-cost carrier alliance that would permit passengers to easily connect among their networks.

Don’t miss! Get $200 for booking a trip on new Upside site! Seriously! 

Norwegian wants to team up with Ryanair for a low-cost alliance.(Photo: Ryanair)

Norwegian wants to team up with Ryanair for a low-cost alliance. (Photo: Ryanair)

All of Norwegian’s plans, of course, depend on maintaining and expanding its access to U.S. airports – something that major U.S. carriers and their pilot unions are fighting against. The U.S. companies argue that Norwegian is taking advantage of various international agreements and labor laws – like basing a subsidiary in Ireland, for example – to undercut its rivals in wages and other operating costs.

The heads of major U.S. airlines are due to meet with President Trump on Thursday, and the Norwegian situation is likely to be high on their agenda – along with their bitter opposition to the Big Three Gulf States airlines – Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways – which the U.S. carries allege are competing unfairly thanks to subsidies from their governments.

Update from FlightGlobal on Trump’s view of Norwegian via spokesman Sean Spicer: “There is a deal in which [Norwegian’s] having 50% of the crews and the pilots are American based, they’re flying Boeing planes – there’s a huge economic interest that America has in that deal right now,” he says during a press briefing today. Spicer’s comments are the first by a Trump administration official on the subject of Norwegian. Full post here

So where do you think this is all going? Leave your comments below. 

Don’t miss! Get $200 for booking a trip on new Upside site! Seriously! 

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Trump’s ban seen hurting business travel

Dubai Airport

Will Middle Eastern airports like Dubai’s see fewer business travelers this year? (Image: Chris McGinnis)

The Trump Administration’s ban on travel to the U.S. for citizens from seven mainly Muslim countries is likely to hurt global business travel, according to a new poll.

The Global Business Travel Association last week surveyed its membership of corporate travel buyers and found that 31 percent of the respondents expect Trump’s executive order to result in a reduction in their company’s business travel over the next three months.

Some 29 percent said they expect that dampening effect to continue over the following three to six months as well, and 28 percent said it could well keep hurting travel over the next six to 12 months and beyond.

A majority of respondents – 63 percent – said they expected to see other countries respond to the ban by making travel more difficult for Americans, while 56 percent said it could lead to difficulties for travel to the U.S., and 54 percent were concerned about an increase in threats to U.S. travelers abroad.

Corporate travel managers worry about threats to their employees overseas. (Image: jim Glab)

Corporate travel managers worry about threats to their employees overseas. (Image: jim Glab)

When asked about top concerns regarding the immigration ban on their company’s business travelers, “uncertainty regarding green card and approved visa credibility to enter the United States (55 percent), harassment of U.S. travelers to and from the Middle East (50 percent) and increased traveler harassment in general (50 percent) topped the list,” GBTA said.

Asked about their own views on the ban, half of the respondents opposed it while 38 percent supported it. The ban – which affects citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen – led to massive confusion and demonstrations at major U.S. airports over the last two weeks.

Late Friday, a federal judge in Washington temporarily halted the travel ban saying that “no one is above the law, even the president.”

And after a weekend of adjustment, it appears that we are back to business as usual at US airports and borders, but that could change quickly.

It’s going to be an interesting four years…

Have you had any personal experience around the travel ban? Do you feel different now traveling as an American abroad? Please leave your comments below. 

 

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Popular: Fare deal | United headsets | Cuba clock ticks | Alaska>Virgin tips | Trump bump | Cathay sale

Alaska Airlines

Chris flew on an Alaska Airlines 737-900 to Cuba last week (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

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

1 Deal alert: West Coast to Europe for $69

2 United passengers test a new way of looking at thingsWeekend Edition

3 Clock ticking on your chance to see Cuba? Maybe

4 Alaska Airlines helping Virgin flyers make the transition

5 What “Do Not Disturb” really means at hotels

Polaris cabins have plenty of overhead storage space. (Image: United)

Polaris cabins have plenty of overhead storage space. Passengers have strange footwear 😉 (Image: United)

6 United’s new Polaris cabin: More than just window dressing

7 United to kick out The Queen earlier than expected

8 Routes: Delta at Seattle, Alaska at Portland + AA, JetBlue, Spirit

9 Deal Alert: Australia/New Zealand for less than $900

10 Southwest announces 22 new routes

Don’t miss: Big new Marriott in Houston, Starwood in NYC + more new hotels

Delta's premium economy cabin will debut on its A350s in about a year. (Image: Delta)

You’ll likely be paying more for your Delta flights this year…thanks to Trump?  (Image: Delta)

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

Delta gets a Trump bump; expects fares to rise

How to get 15% off Qatar Airways flights

Airlines added 8 new routes PER DAY last year. No word on how many they dumped, tho

Plans set for a new Concourse G at ATL– adding 10 new international gates

Cathay Pacific Year of the Rooster sales- great deals to Asia from US East & West coasts

The entrance to Manhattan's new 34th Street-Hudson Yards subway station. (Image: Metropolitan Transportation Authority)

The entrance to Manhattan’s new 34th Street-Hudson Yards subway station. (Image: Metropolitan Transportation Authority)

Wi-fi and cell phone signal now at all New York City Subway stations

Oakland now has the most flights…ever

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta is #1– but not for what you might expect…

Uber/Lyft pick ups on LOWER level of ATL Hartsfield-Jackson

Carlos Slim gets contract to build Mexico City’s $4 billion new airport

How to Use Your 100,000 Chase Sapphire Reserve Bonus Points

United updates its menu

United menu

Sample menus on United domestic flights

BA makes plans to deal with three-day cabin crew strike starting January 19

JetBlue completes fleetwide rollout of Fly-Fi Wi-Fi

TSA found nine guns a day at airport checkpoints during 2016

FedEx package drop-offs, pick-ups coming to Walgreens

Loaded guns are legal in these 11 major U.S. airports

World’s airlines with the best and worst on-time performance

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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Is now the time to go to Cuba?

Viva Cuba

The outlook for travel to Cuba is still complicated (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

The first nonstop flight from the U.S. West Coast to Cuba took off from Los Angeles International Airport Terminal 6 last week and TravelSkills was onboard.

We were part of a delegation of about 50 business, government and civic leaders from the West Coast invited by Alaska Airlines for a two-day relationship-building and fact-finding mission to Havana.

While it was a very quick trip, I picked up tons of interesting insight and info about the current situation and outlook for American travelers in Cuba. And since I’m a newbie to regular flying on Alaska Airlines, I learned a lot about it, too.

Alaska Airlines Havana

Alaska Airlines nonstop from LAX to Havana arrives at about 5 pm- just in time for a lovely tropical sunset (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

So let’s dive in.

In this post I’ll take a look at what’s happening in Cuba— we’ll follow up with a post on flying Alaska Airlines to get there.

My primary take-away: Whether or not you’ll like Cuba now depends on the type of traveler you are. It’s a great place for the adventurous or curious traveler with an open mind, lots of patience and ability to deal with the heat, humidity and grit of a poor, developing country. Right now, it’s not a place for a traveler who expects world-class creature comforts, high quality food and drink, relaxation and leisure. Interested? Then see: How much does it cost to fly to Havana? Not much! More advice: If you can afford to hire a guide, hire one. Or go as part of a group. Cuba’s a tough place to see on your own for the first time. (The company Alaska Air engaged to guide our group was Distant Horizons.)

Iberostar Havana Hotel

My $500 per night hotel room in Havana (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Politics: On our first morning in Havana, we attended a lecture by University of Havana Professor Jorge Mario Sanchez. He’s is a professor of Economics and International Relations and oversees the University’s student exchange program with Harvard University. President-elect Trump’s views on Cuba and what he may or may not do is clearly the top concern on the island these days. Why? Because the recent warming of relations between the U.S and Cuba, and the relaxation of rules for travelers are not at all permanent. The increased engagement we’ve experienced lately is the result of an executive order by President Obama, which could easily be reversed with the stroke of a pen by the incoming president.

Sanchez emphasized that with the trade embargo still in place, the U.S. and Cuba are still considered enemies under the current legal framework. The only way our relationship with Cuba can be truly normalized is to rescind trade embargo (The “Cuban Assets Control Regulations” set in 1963)– something only Congress can do. Cubans hoping for sustained change were dealt a blow recently when Trump appointed Mauricio Claver-Carone, a harsh critic of Obama’s efforts to normalize relations, and director of a pro-embargo group, to his transition team.

Could we be living in a rare window of opportunity to visit Cuba before the door is slammed shut again? Maybe! Time will tell…

Cuba Classic Car

Negotiate a deal with the owner of one of Cuba’s numerous classic cars for a tour or a trip across town (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Business: With Marriott, Starwood, Airbnb, Alaska Airlines and nearly every U.S. carrier already operating in Cuba, a blanket reversal is probably unlikely. But it’s still a big unknown. Also, recent changes in property ownership are spawning a new entrepreneurial class in Cuba. For example, Cubans can now own those classic cars, and run them like small businesses. You can negotiate with drivers for a ride across town or a tour (starting at about $25). Our group visited a newly privatized garage where these cars are restored and maintained. Sanchez says that privately owned restaurants are all the rage now, with over 500 new ones opening in the last year! Whatever happens with Trump, Sanchez says that Cubans will “improvise, adapt and survive”– something they’ve been doing for over 50 years.

Kempinski Hotel Havana

A new Kempinski Hotel will soon open on Havana’s Parque Central (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Hotels: Alaska Air put up our group at the Iberostar Parque Central hotel. It’s considered a 5-star hotel in Cuba, but that’s by Cuban standards. Most folks in our group were shocked to learn that the daily rate at this hotel ran about $550. While the staff could not have been nicer and the facilities any cleaner, the hard product was not up to world-class, 5-star standards– beds were low and lumpy, furniture dated and nicked, wi-fi was slow and spotty, elevators overtaxed (hotel was full or Americans and Europeans).  How can they get away with a rate like that? Well, it’s supply and demand. There are a LOT of people who want to travel to Cuba right now and most want the security and familiarity of a big hotel (vs an Airbnb or casa particular) for their first visit, and are willing to pay for it. When demand outstrips supply, you get inflation. Good old capitalism at work, right?

Cuba Capitol Capitolio Havana

Like nearly everything else in Havana, the Capitol is undergoing extensive renovation (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Construction: As you may recall, I was on the first cruise ship allowed to sail from the US to Cuba last May. In the short period of time since then, I noticed that there is a LOT more construction and rehabilitation of Havana’s crumbling, yet still beautiful, architecture. There’s a big scaffolding on the Capitol building, which is undergoing a complete renovation by a German firm. Next door is the recently redone, now glittering and well-lit baroque National Opera. Next to that is the soon-to-be-Starwood-managed Inglaterra hotel- a grand dame in need of an update (according to guests I spoke with), but with a lively scene nightly on its roof bar. Across the street from the Iberostar, a striking, sugar-white new Kempinski Havana hotel (housed in the elegant Manzana de Gomez building) is in the final stages of a major redo, and should open this year. A brand-new-from-the-ground-up 10-story glass and steel hotel is rising across the street for the Havana’s famous water-front malecon. A new Marriott hotel will soon be built inside the gorgeous facade of a grand old building in Old Havana.

Oil and Gas: Something I did not know is that Cuba has vast and mostly unexplored oil and gas fields along its Gulf of Mexico coastline and could eventually be one of Latin America’s top exporters of fossil fuels in coming years. Havana will even host an Oil & Gas Summit next month. While that could do great things for the Cuban economy, Sanchez said that there is worry about the environmental impact of off-shore drilling not just on Cuba, but on the entire Atlantic ocean since the Gulf Stream flows through the area and into the North Atlantic. With an oil and gas executive poised to be at the helm of the U.S. State Department, who knows what could happen in U.S.-Cuba relations.

Havana Cuba malecon

Not a boat in site along Havana’s famous malecon (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Fishing: In a seaside city like Havana, you’d expect to see a big fishing fleet and lots of seafood on the menu. You’d also expect to see a big trade in charter fishing boats for visitors. But when you peer north out at the dark blue waters off Havana’s malecon, that’s all you see… water. No boats. Why? Well, as our guide said, “We don’t have many fishermen in Cuba because they fish too far” referring to the steady stream of Cubans escaping to the U.S. by boat or raft. But now that President Obama has ended the controversial “wet foot, dry foot” policy that allows Cubans (only) arriving on U.S. shores automatic permanent residency status (versus arrest and deportation), there is less incentive for Cubans to run away. Maybe fishing could once again become a viable occupation in Cuba.

So there you have it! Next up will by my trip report on the Alaska Airlines flight between Los Angeles and Havana, including a look at the LAX gate side festivities (including Cuban pastries and strong coffee), the fiesta atmosphere onboard the plane, our reception in the business class lounge (Salon V.I.P) at Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport and more!

–Chris McGinnis

Fantastic, ubiquitous street music in Havana #cuba #travel #music

A video posted by Chris McGinnis (@chrisjmcginnis) on

Disclosure: Alaska Airlines covered the cost of Chris’s trip to Havana

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How much to fly to Havana? Not much!

Havana Cuba car

Hot competition is leading to super low fares to Havana this winter (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

With nearly every major airline taking the deep dive into Cuba this month, you may be wondering: Hmmm. I’m curious about going there, but how much might it cost? Here’s the answer: Not much! For example, flights from the New York City area are on sale now for just $205 roundtrip and even lower elsewhere.

And if you are looking for an unusual place for a warm winter trip, you may want to pounce on these sale fares. Want even more incentives to go to Cuba soon? President-elect Donald Trump is talking about reversing the recent opening of Cuba to American visitors.

Also, according to Bloomberg, interest in flying to Cuba is less than expected, with some airlines already trimming their schedules. And low demand means lower fares!

Here’s a rundown of deals from LA, SF, ATL, NYC and Miami. Check Google Flights for fares from the airport nearest to you.

(Note: Fares available on Thursday Dec 1 and subject to change)

From Los Angeles, you can get to Havana for around $350 from January through June on several different airlines, but only one nonstop- Alaska Air, and it has the cheapest fare at just $303. Spirit actually has some LAX-HAV fares as low as $286- but you have to layer on extra fees for Spirit flights.

screen-shot-2016-12-01-at-9-33-25-am

San Francisco does not have any nonstop flights to Cuba, but one-stop flights on several carriers are running as low as $376 all winter long. JetBlue has the best deals via New York or Ft Lauderdale

screen-shot-2016-12-01-at-9-44-04-am

From Atlanta, Spirit Air will jet you down to Havana for about $210 round trip (plus fees!) and Delta’s nonstop is just over $300 round trip for winter trips.

screen-shot-2016-12-01-at-9-46-54-am

The New York City area has excellent prices from three major players on nonstops– just $205 roundtrip in January and February on Delta, JetBlue and United.

screen-shot-2016-12-01-at-9-50-08-am

From Miami or Ft Lauderdale you’ll find the cheapest nonstop roundtrip fares of all– just $130. And yes, that is round trip.

screen-shot-2016-12-01-at-9-53-30-am

So, are you ready to give Cuba a try? Been there yet? Please leave your comments below.

Don’t miss: Chris’ Trip Report from first trip to Cuba!

Shave in Cuba

Chris getting a shave in Cienfuegos, Cuba

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Delta: Bad behavior gets you banned for life

You won't see this guy on any more Delta flights. (Image:

You won’t see this guy on any more Delta flights. (Image: Emma Baum/Facebook)

>Delta bans disruptive passenger for life, refunds fares to all passengers on Atlanta-Allentown flight 

Following a major embarrassment on the Internet over the past few days, Delta Air Lines is cracking down on passenger behavior aboard its aircraft.

The embarrassment involved a very vocal Donald Trump supporter on a Delta flight from Atlanta to Allentown last week; the passenger stood up in the aisle and chanted “Trump,” peppering his outburst with profanity and a reference to “Hillary bitches.” The problem for Delta: Another passenger made a video of the rant and posted it on Facebook, where its viewership quickly passed the 2 million mark.

The ranting passenger was not removed from the flight, to the dismay of others who found his behavior seriously offensive. As a result, Delta CEO Ed Bastian felt compelled to issue a public apology and is also refunding passengers on the flight for the cost of their tickets.

“This individual displayed behavior that was loud, rude and disrespectful to his fellow customers,” Bastian said. “After questioning the customer, our team members made the best decision they could, given the information they had, and allowed him to remain on the flight. However, if our colleagues had witnessed firsthand what was shown in the video, there is no question they would have removed him from the aircraft. He will never again be allowed on a Delta plane.”

He said the airline is committed to “acknowledging our mistakes so we can learn from them,” and noted that all passengers on that flight have been given a refund and an apology. “The heightened tension in our society means that now more than ever we must require civility on our planes and in our facilities.”

Still, you have to wonder – what would Delta have done in the absence of a viral video of the incident? What would you have done if you witnessed an outburst like this?

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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Most popular: Trump hotel + Earlier flight fee + PreCheck slowdown + Alaska-Virgin plane + Hotel deals

Trump hotel

Elegant living room with Pennsylvania Ave street level views at Trump International in DC (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

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

1 Love it or loath it, it’s now “the president’s hotel” One night at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC

2 Smart travel skills here> How to get on an earlier flight for freeWeekend Edition

3 Routes: SFO, LAX, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Miami, Newark, JFK

4 Shorter lines? TSA PreCheck abruptly shutters expansion effort

5 My last real Virgin flight: How I bid on a transcon upgrade and won

6 Routes: Southwest, JetBlue, Delta, American, Surf Air

7 More cheap flights across the Atlantic?

8 Mixed opinions, but I like it Sneak peek at new Alaska-Virgin plane?

9 More airport preclearance stations make it easier to fly home

10 Alaska sets Premium Class launch, amends upgrade policy

Everyone’s talking about this video from a United plane where the pilot had to make a post-election announcement telling passengers to shut up and get along– or take another flight. Pretty good!

Marriott & Starwood offer Cyber Monday deals that are worth checking out post-feast!

This latest Black Friday/Cyber Monday promotion offers members rates up to 25% off at more than 2,100 hotels and resorts globally. From November 25 through November 28, members can book hotel rooms starting as low as $79 per night for stays between December 9, 2016 and January 16, 2017.  Must book on Marriott.com, the Marriott Mobile app and by contacting a hotel or the telephone reservation center, all using promotional code “444.”

SPG is getting a head start on Cyber Monday, launching special rates November 21 through December 4– featuring discounts of up to 30% for stay dates through September 4, 2017. Plus, SPG members get an additional 5% savings when booking directly through the Cyber Monday sale site (when it activates).

Last week when I was in DC, I was able to get in the stunning new National Museum of African American History & Culture! Quite a feat since the waiting list for tickets is now more than six months long. Stay tuned for more on my visit…

New African-American #history #museum in #washington #dc is hottest ticket in town. #soldout #travel

A photo posted by Chris McGinnis (@chrisjmcginnis) on

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

Delta’s new record: 200 days without a mainline flight cancellation

A real (green!) snake on the plane VIDEO

U.S. airlines want Trump to privatize air traffic control, block foreign rivals

Emirates customers can now apply for Dubai visas with new mobile app

IHG’s new enhanced Wi-Fi will be in 1,500 Americas hotels by year’s end

Boeing, Airbus seek Singapore order for world’s longest plane

Google updates Gmail for iPhone users- NICE 

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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One night at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC

Trump hotel DC

Quiet hotel hallways bathed in natural light from the sky-lit atrium at Trump International in DC (Chris McGinnis)

In this post: A look inside the hallways, rooms and towers of the Trump International hotel in DC, an interview and tour with the managing director, and conversations with people who work there…plus lots of photos! 

I was in Washington DC recently for meeting of Boarding Area bloggers and could not resist the opportunity to report on what is likely the most talked-about hotel in the U.S. these days: The brand new Trump International Hotel Washington DC.

Because I flew in from the West Coast, I had to arrive a day early  to attend sessions beginning on Friday afternoon. The meeting was at the Marriott Marquis, but it was full on Thursday night, so I began my search for options.

During my search, the Trump International popped up several times at $404 per night while many of the city’s other four and five star hotels were sold out. Seeing the Trump hotel show up reminded me that I know the managing director there, Mickael Damelincourt, an old friend of TravelSkills I’d met when he opened hotels in Chicago and Toronto.  So I sent him an email letting him know was coming to DC and that I’d like to meet up with him to find out more about his the hotel for a post on the blog. I wrote, “The post would be completely and purposefully non-political. I just think it would make a really well-read item considering the brouhaha around the election the curiosity about the new hotel.”

Trump Hotel key

Key to room 721 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

A few minutes later, bingo! I heard back from him with an offer to comp my one-night stay, which I accepted. Here’s what I experienced and learned and heard from all kinds of folks connected to the hotel. 

I flew into Washington Reagan National Airport on Virgin America (arriving 4 pm) and called up Lyft to pick me up for a ride to the hotel. I was a little worried about what the driver might think when he learned of my destination. So when I got in the car, and realized that the driver was from Africa (Ghana he later shared) I made a joke and said, “You have my destination right? Take me to the devil’s house!” He let out a big laugh and said, “I have been wanting a pick up or drop off at the Trump hotel ever since it opened last week! You are my first! I don’t care who wins this election, I just want it to be over. So let’s go see his house!”

Tourists snagging selfies at the Pennsylvania Ave entrance to the Trump DC (Chris McGinnis)

Tourists snagging selfies at the Pennsylvania Ave entrance to the Trump DC (Chris McGinnis)

Clearly the driver had never been to the hotel before, because when we arrived, he could not find the entrance, and dropped me off on 12th Street. Both the 12th St and Pennsylvania Avenue doors were closed, so I dragged my bag around to 11th Street where the main entrance is.

As I approached the door, a smiling bellman in top hat and tails rushed out to greet me and take my bags, and asked my name. Within seconds of entering the hotel, it felt like I was in Asia– why? Because the bellman had somehow let the staff know that my name was Mr McGinnis, and soon they were all greeting me by name, and did so throughout my stay. Last time I experienced that kind of name recognition was in Hong Kong. Impressive.

Guests enter the hotel through a dark wood-paneled portico, and are led into the huge, bright eye-popping lobby, which used to be the factory floor of the US Post Office, full of sorting machines and workers. Now it’s full of blue velvet, marble, crystal chandeliers, a big bar with four giant TV screens. Soaring 200 feet above is a new glass ceiling that allows natural light to flow into the lobby atrium and the nine floors of corridors leading to 263 rooms and suites. It’s a lot to take in!

Trump International Hotel

The lobby of the Trump International used to house a mail sorting facility. Now look! (Chris McGinnis)

As I was standing there soaking it all up, Damelincourt appeared to welcome me and set up our appointment for a tour the following morning. He pointed up to the old Post Office clock tower through the glass ceiling and said, “I’ll take you up there tomorrow- it’s the second highest building in Washington and has been off limits to the public for years. The US Park Service will open it to public tours later this winter.”

There’s been plenty of speculation about whether or not the Donald’s controversial campaign has affected business at this hotel, so I was on the lookout for signs, and I do think it seemed rather quiet. At 5 pm on Thursday, the big bar area had about 50 customers being served by white-coated staff. “How’s business?” I asked. Damelincourt said that the bar has been quite popular and he’s averaging between $18,000 and $25,000 in receipts per night. He said the biggest nights in the lobby so far were during the debates when they had it tuned in on all four lobby screens. He said a big crowd from both sides showed up to cheer on their candidates in a good natured fashion and the nights were a big success. He’s expecting a similar crowd on election night as well as Super Bowl Sunday.

Trump hotel

The Trump hotel was once the Old US Post Office building on Pennsylvania Avenue (Chris McGinnis)

As far as hotel business is concerned, he said that he’s opened two other Trump hotels before, and that early bookings at this one seem to be in line with those. It’s true that a brand new hotel takes time to establish itself in a market. Plus hoteliers like business to build up slowly in order for staff to get up to speed. But still, I was on the lookout to see just how slow business was.

Once I checked in at the desk, a beautiful Latina woman escorted me to my room on the seventh floor. On the way to the room, she pointed out the details of the restoration of this one-time office building. From the old radiators surrounding columns in the lobby to the crown molding in corridors, it’s gorgeous. We were having a great chat as we walked through the long corridors to my room. She told me she was from Miami and that she’d worked in the hotel business for a while, but that this was the best job she’d ever had. I had to ask, “So what do your friends back in Miami have to say about your working for Mr Trump?” She looked at me and said, without skipping a beat, “Trump is very popular in Miami, so most of my friends are supportive of my job or don’t really care. It’s not an issue, really.” Fair enough, I thought.

Trump Hotel

Room 721 at the Trump International Washington DC- 14 foot ceilings, crystal chandeliers and lots of gold leaf (Chris McGinnis)

She showed me around my “premier” room, which is one step up from the entry level “deluxe” rooms. Since the hotel officially opened just last week, I felt like I could have been the first person to sleep in this room- it sure smelled that way! It was huge with 14 foot ceilings, two brilliant, freshly scrubbed crystal chandeliers (there are 628 throughout the hotel), a big king bed with an ornate gilded headboard that screamed Trump, plus a wonderful nook for a gilded desk in a corner turret with stunning views of the Washington Monument and the surrounding sandstone buildings in the Federal Triangle. The big bright bathroom was sheathed in Carrara marble and includes a dual vanity, huge soaking tub and walk in shower.

Trump hotel

Carrara marble everywhere in the big bathroom in room 721 (Chris McGinnis)

As I was unpacking, the doorbell rang, and it was a butler with bottle of sparkling wine and some strawberries as a welcome from the hotel. The brand was Trump Blanc de Blanc ($26) of course!  I had a glass and it was actually very good, but I’m no wine connoisseur.

I was eager to get out of the room, take my own mini-tour of the hotel, then find a place for dinner. Walking out of my room to the corridor, I peered over the balcony and saw the entire hotel…every floor down to the lobby. Damelincourt told me that as a manager, he loves this since it’s easy for him to look out and see what’s happening all at once– something that’s tough to do without a big atrium like this. The hallways were gorgeous and lit with crystal chandeliers, lamps and sconces, chairs, tables, chintz and views. They are also super long, which, due to the Halloween season, made me think of the movie The Shining and the word Redrum 🙂 . But there was not a soul in sight. I wondered if I was the only guest on the seventh floor.

On my way out of the hotel I approached the concierge who greets me by name. I asked him for suggestions saying, “I’m just off the plane from San Francisco, and did not eat much since breakfast. I’m starving for a good walk and an early dinner. I’ll be dining alone so would like a place that’s easy and casual.” He lit up when I said San Francisco. “Did you know that there’s a Tadich Grill right across the street? You can go there and sit at the bar and they’ll take good care of you. Tell ’em Robert from the Trump hotel sent you.” He insisted on walking out the door to show me exactly where it was.

Tadich Grill

The new Tadich Grill in Washington is across the street from the Trump International (Chris McGinnis)

So I took a nice spin down Pennsylvania Avenue, then went to Tadich Grill for a delicious dinner of lump blue crab cakes (perfection!) and a glass of chardonnay. I had a nice chat with the bartender and asked, “So what do you think about having the Trump hotel across the street? Do you get much business from there? Does it seem busy?” He lit up at that and had plenty to say. First, he said that competition among bartenders was fierce for a job at the Trump because “he pays top dollar [$19/hr + tips] to bartenders and pays for health insurance, too. At other places, you’ll get about $9 per hour and you are lucky if you get insurance.” He has friends on staff at the Trump who tell him that the hotel is running about 50% full, while others in the area are oversold- he said, “Just go look at the windows and see how many lights you see on and you’ll get an idea.”

He said that much of the hotel’s business is driven by the curiosity factor for now, and that anyone who won’t stay there for political reasons will forget about that soon after the election. I have to agree. Location is typically the primary factor business travelers use when choosing a hotel, and the Trump is ideally located midway between the White House and the Capitol. Plus, during recent elections I heard from readers swearing that they’d never stay at a Marriott again after the Marriott family donated so much to the Romney campaign… that obviously had little impact on what is now the largest hotel company in the world. Time will tell….

The Trump International at night (Chris McGinnis)

The Trump International at night (Chris McGinnis)

So when I left Tadich and resumed my walk I looked up a hotel windows. From the street, The Trump looked about half full. But when I looked up at the nearby Willard InterContinental or JW Marriott, both were nearly 100% full.

Plenty of lights on at the nearby JW Marriott Hotel in DC (Chris McGinnis)

Plenty of lights on at the nearby JW Marriott Hotel in DC (Chris McGinnis)

I slept well and woke up the following morning for breakfast at BLT Prime in the lobby. Since I was on Pacific time, I was a little late, sitting down at about 9 am. There were only about six other patrons in the restaurant. I ordered a delicious breakfast popover stuffed with scrambled eggs and chunks of smoky bacon served with fresh berries. The coffee was good, and naturally Trump branded. From my perch on the balcony overlooking the lobby, I could see the four giant TV screens at the other end and noted that none of them showed Fox News.

BLT restaurant

My breakfast popover at the BLT restaurant in the lobby (Chris McGinnis)

At 10 am my tour started with the Damelincourt. Here are some highlights from that spin through the property:

-Despite their political persuasions, Damelincourt says that most Washingtonians are most happy that something was finally done with the the beautiful but dumpy old building that had struggled since the post office moved out long ago.

-Trump leased the hotel from the federal government for 60 years and invested about $200 million in the refurbishment. The hotel shares the space with the U.S. Park Service, which oversees the iconic clock tower that stands above the hotel, and will begin offering tours in January.

-There are 263 rooms in the hotel. That includes 35 suites  which go for $1,000-$20,000 a night. Deluxe rooms start at around $400. Premier rooms (larger, with better views) start at about $550. Executive rooms and junior suites start at around $650 per night. (Rates of course are based on demand, so can vary widely.)

Trump hotel

Looking up at the clocktower through the glass ceiling at the Trump Hotel (Chris McGinnis)

-The best entry-level rooms? “Well if you are a history buff, ask for a deluxe room with an atrium view- from your room, you can look up through the glass roof to see the famous clocktower.”

-The Presidential Suite was at one time the office of the US Postmaster General– it’s huge (three times the size of the Oval Office!), ornate and covered in with masculine wood paneling. The bathroom once served as the Postal Service safe, and retains a two-foot thick doorway to enter.

Suites at the Trump International decorated in Navy blue and white- and lots of crystal (Chris McGinnis)

Suites at the Trump International decorated in Navy blue and white- and lots of crystal (Chris McGinnis)

-The clock tower houses bells given to the US by the UK that do not fit in the Capitol (down at the end of Pennsylvania Avenue, so they were put in the Post Office Tower. Soon those bells will be rung by hand during the opening and closing of Congress.

-There are three Presidential Suites in the Trump. The Postmaster suite is 2,000 square feet. The Presidential Suite (the most secure) is 4,000 square feet and the Trump Townhouse (two levels on the first and second floor with dedicated entry from the street) is 6,300 square feet.

Trump Hotel toilet

Check out the presidential toilet in the presidential suite! Paging LBJ! (Chris McGinnis)

-The 628 crystal chandeliers throughout the hotel are cleaned about every eight weeks by a private contractor. Nice contract, I bet!

-A few nice touches Damelincourt insisted on: a standard alarm clock in every room (they are made of brass and very heavy). He has installed handheld garment steamers in each closet, which he says remove wrinkles quickly without the muss and fuss of an iron an ironing board. And best of all (to me at least) the hotel provides real half & half with the in-room Nespresso machine! Also, in-room wifi was lightning fast, and when you sign on, it’s good for three days…no irritating daily sign on required.

Trump Hotel

View of the Washington Monument over the roof of the IRS building from the desk of my room at the Trump hotel (Chris McGinnis)

-When we were in the tower, I wondered aloud if the hotel required any sort of special security detail due to the controversy surrounding Trump. He looked around and said, “We are surrounded by the IRS and the FBI is across the street. This is one of the most secure areas in the whole city, so if anything funny happens, police usually respond within minutes, if not seconds. Every day we get a few protesters on the sidewalk who hold up placards for a photo, then disappear.”

-The Trump children (primarily Ivanka) visit and consult with the hotel frequently. The Donald is not involved in the day-to-day like they are.

Trump hotel DC

The majestic view from the clock tower at the Trump International Hotel in Washington (Chris McGinnis)

So what do you think? Once the election brouhaha has cooled off, would you darken the door of the Trump International Hotel in DC? Why or why not? Please leave your comments below. 

Disclosure: The Trump International hotel comped my one night stay and TravelSkills paid for my flights, meals and transfers related to this trip.

–Chris McGinnis

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‘Don’t seat me next to Trump’ + United snacks + Gogo’s new $3 pass + Holiday travel forecast

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

What's a stroopwafel? Find out soon on United. (Image: United)

What’s a stroopwafel? Find out soon on United. (Image: United)

United will bring back free snacks for economy passengers in February.

Gogo introduces new “messaging only” Wi-Fi pass for just $3.

Legroom, disruptive travelers top “passenger peeves” poll.

Air New Zealand tries facial recognition technology for bag drops at Auckland.

Business traveler survey identifies Trump as “worst seatmate.”

Odd video of the week: Artist fashions miniature Singapore Airlines seats out of paper.

Congressman files legislation to protect airline passengers’ bathroom rights.

Japan Airlines introduces a new domestic air pass for foreign visitors.

Airline group issues traffic forecast for a busy holiday travel period.

Airbus creates a design for “stacked seats” in A350 economy cabin.

Boeing rolls out the newest version of its popular 737.

Kuala Lumpur Airport tries to locate owner of three abandoned 747s.

KLM will use a robot to guide passengers around Schiphol Airport.

Starwood adds some members of Design Hotels group as its newest brand.

 

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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Top 15 travel brands ranked

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.”

Screen Shot 2015-07-10 at 10.23.03 AM

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!


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New hotels: Honolulu

Sunset mai tais and slack guitar at the Halekulani (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

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.

Related: 7 things to know about Hawaiian Air | Lanai: Billionaire’s work in progress

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)

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)

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)

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

>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

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